File photo of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda.
Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, ex-Coal Secretary HC Gupta, former Jharkhand Chief Secretary Ashok Kumar Basu and six others were today ordered to be put on trial by a special court on charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating in connection with a coal block allocation scam case.
Besides them, Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar ordered framing of charges against two public servants, Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh, Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL), its director Vaibhav Tulsyan, Mr Koda's alleged close aide Vijay Joshi and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan.
The court ordered framing of charges against these nine accused for offences under various sections of IPC, including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) and under relevant provisions of the PC Act.
The court has now fixed July 31 for formal framing of charges and directed all the accused to remain present in the court on that day.
"I have ordered framing of charges against all the accused... put up for formal framing of charges on July 31," the judge said.
The case pertains to the alleged irregularities in allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based VISUL.
These accused were summoned for alleged offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.