In the latest chapter of the coal block allocation scam, industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Coal Minister Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and 12 others were charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a special court here on Wednesday.
This case is related to the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal block in Birbhum in Jharkhand in 2008. The charge sheet was filed before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar and the hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Jindal group refutes charges
In the Central Bureau of Investigation charge sheet on the coal block allocation scam filed in a special court here on Wednesday, former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and five firms, including Jindal Steel and Power and Jindal Realty Pvt. Ltd. have also been named as accused.
Denying all allegations, the Jindal group said that it was responsible for creating a world class steel manufacturing and power generation infrastructure in many States and had created a lot of jobs for Indians.
“We are shocked to know about filing of a charge-sheet by the CBI. The said allocation was made to the company on merits. During the course of the investigation, the company and its officials fully co-operated with the authorities, and whenever asked, explained and provided all the supporting documents. We will be availing appropriate remedy in accordance with law. We have full faith in our judiciary and are confident to come out clean during the process,” said a statement from the company.
They have been charged for cheating and conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, while the former minister and bureaucrat have also been charged with abuse of position for advantage under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI has charged that the Jindal firms had acquired Jharkhand’s Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block by misrepresenting facts about previous allocations, land and water supply when Dasari Narayan Rao was the Minister of State for Coal.
It has been alleged that the then Coal Minister received indirect gratification.
