First judgement in coal scam: Special court convicts Rungtas of JIPL

The case pertains to irregularities in allocation of North Dhadu coal block to JIPL and three other firms

A special court on Monday convicted Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) and its two directors, R S Rungta and R C Rungta, in a case pertaining to irregularities in allotment of a coal block in the state to the firm, in what is the first judgement in the coal scam.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar held the company and its two directors guilty of the offences under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of IPC.

This is the first coal block allocation scam case in which the special court, which was set up to exclusively to deal with all the coal scam matters, has delivered its judgement.

The court ordered that R S Rungta and R C Rungta, who were out on bail, be taken into custody and fixed the matter for March 31 for hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence.

The case pertains to irregularities in allocation of North Dhadu coal block, by the 27th and 30th screening committees jointly, to JIPL and three other firms — M/s Electro Steel Casting Ltd, M/s Adhunik Alloys and Power Ltd and M/s Pawanjay Steel and Power Ltd.