A special CBI court on Tuesday ordered framing of charges against the former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, the former Jharkhand Chief Secretary Ashok Kumar Basu, the former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and six others. They will face trial on charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating.
This particular case is related to the alleged irregularities in allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).
The court of Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar ordered the formal framing of charges on July 31. He told all the accused, who were earlier granted bail, to be present in court on that date.
The accused had been summoned after the court took cognisance of alleged offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CBI has accused Mr. Gupta of concealing facts from the former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Mr. Koda, Mr. Basu and two other public servants were accused of conspiring to favour VISUL in the coal block allocation despite the State government having recommended two other firms.
Earlier, Mr. Gupta had accused Dr. Singh of approving the allocation, stating that the final decision to allocate the blocks rested with him.
