CBI opposes Madhu Koda’s bail plea in coal scam
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
The CBI on Wednesday opposed in a special court the bail pleas of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and seven others alleging that they have conspired and abused their position to favour accused firm Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd. (VISUL) in allocation of a coal block.
The agency told Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar that besides Koda, the other accused in the case were ex-Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu, ex-coal secretary H.C. Gupta, and being politicians and public servants they might influence the witnesses in the matter.
“The prosecution case is based on oral testimonies. The public servants, politicians are very much influential persons and their submissions that they were not arrested earlier reflect that they are very influential,” senior public prosecutor V.K. Sharma told the court.
Mr. Sharma also told the court that Gupta had “misled” the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the recommendation made by screening committee, of which he was the chairman at that time.
Opposing their bail pleas, Special Public Prosecutor R.S. Cheema said the witnesses might be influenced in the case.
Koda, Basu, Gupta, public servants Bipin Bihari Singh and Basant Kumar Bhattacharya, VISUL’s Director Vaibhav Tulsyan, chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan and Koda’s alleged close aide Vijay Joshi appeared in the court following the summons issued against them.
Seeking bail, Koda’s counsel told the court that the screening committee had already recommended allocation of coal block to VISUL and he had nothing to do with it.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Jharkhand’s Rajhara north coal block to VISUL.
The agency told Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar that besides Koda, the other accused in the case were ex-Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu, ex-coal secretary H.C. Gupta, and being politicians and public servants they might influence the witnesses in the matter.
“The prosecution case is based on oral testimonies. The public servants, politicians are very much influential persons and their submissions that they were not arrested earlier reflect that they are very influential,” senior public prosecutor V.K. Sharma told the court.
Mr. Sharma also told the court that Gupta had “misled” the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the recommendation made by screening committee, of which he was the chairman at that time.
Opposing their bail pleas, Special Public Prosecutor R.S. Cheema said the witnesses might be influenced in the case.
Koda, Basu, Gupta, public servants Bipin Bihari Singh and Basant Kumar Bhattacharya, VISUL’s Director Vaibhav Tulsyan, chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan and Koda’s alleged close aide Vijay Joshi appeared in the court following the summons issued against them.
Seeking bail, Koda’s counsel told the court that the screening committee had already recommended allocation of coal block to VISUL and he had nothing to do with it.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Jharkhand’s Rajhara north coal block to VISUL.
Related items
- D.K Ravi death case: Final report will be filed; CBI chief
- Vyapam scam whistleblower Anand Rai transferred
- CBI arrests deputy commissioner in bribe case
- Vyapam scam: CBI registers three fresh cases
