Delhi High Court extends bail for RSPL officials

Three RSPL executives were found guilty by a special CBI court in connection with the coal block allocation scam

The Delhi High Court on Monday extended the bail of three Rathi Steel and Power Ltd (RSPL) officials, chief executive officer Udit Rathi (aged 34 years), managing director Padeep Rathi (aged 60 years) and assistant general manager Kushal Aggarwal (aged 35 years).

On July 26, the three RSPL executives were found guilty by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in connection with the coal block allocation scam involving the Kesha North coal block in Chattisgarh. Udit Rathi was sentenced for 3 years of imprisonment, Pradeep Rathi for 3 years and Kushal Aggarwal for 2 years under the Section 420 (cheating) and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The court also imposed fines of Rs 50 Lakh, Rs 25 Lakh and Rs 5 Lakh respectively, as well a Rs 50 Lakh fine on the company.

While pronouncing the convictions, the trial court had mentioned that ‘white collar crimes’ are more dangerous to society than ordinary crimes and sentenced . 

The three RSPL officials had been taken into custody after the special court adjudication, but were granted bail the next day on personal bonds of Rs 2 Lakh each to allow them to file appeals before a higher court. The court had also suspended their sentence by one month to allow for the appeal.

On August 17, the Delhi High Court had sought the CBI’s response to the challenge of the trial court order by the RSPL executives. In Monday’s hearing, Justice Mukta Gupta has extended the bail previously granted to the three

officials and suspended the special court sentence till further hearing on December 5 and 6.

The convictions of the RSPL executives comes after previous sentences of imprisonment against R C Rungta and R S Rungta of Jharkhand Ispat Private Ltd in relation to the scam.