Coal block scam: Ex-J'khand CM Koda, others sentenced

New Delhi, Dec 16: CBI Special Judge Bharat Parashar on Saturday ordered to three years imprisonment former Chief Minister Madhu Koda and others found guilty of corruption in the allocation of Jharkhand's Rajhara North coal block to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (Visul).

The premier probe agency had alleged that Madhu Koda , former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, the then state Chief Secretary AK Basu and others conspired to favour Visul in the allocation of the coal block and in December 2014, had filed a charge sheet against them.
Jharkhand then Chief Secretary AK Basu and Vijay Joshi, a close aide of Koda, were also sentenced to three years prison.
The court imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakhs on Koda and Rs one lakh on Gupta. Visul was slapped with a fine of Rs 50 lakhs.
Statutory bail for a period of two months was granted to the convicts, including Koda, by the Judge to enable them to file appeals before an appellate court.
Judge Parashar took cognizance of alleged offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of Indian Penal Code and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and on July 14, 2015 passed an order on framing of charges against Madhu Koda and others.
On July 31, 2015, the charges were framed against them.
The Judge had held them guilty on Wednesday. UNI