Jindal faces additional charge in coal scam

An additional charge of abetment to bribe has been framed against Congress leader Naveen Jindal and others. A special court on Thursday took the decision in the alleged irregularities in Amarkonda Murgdangal coal allocation case.

The formal framing of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda would take place on August 31 since he did not appear before the judicature citing personal reasons.

Abetment of bribery is a punishable offense under Section 12 in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, with imprisonment for a term of six months to five years.

In July, the judicature framed charges under Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) against Jindal Steel and Power's (JSPL) then adviser Anand Goel, Nihar Stocks Ltd director BSN Suryanarayan and Mumbai's Essar Power Ltd Executive Vice Chairman Sushil Kumar Maroo. All three were named in an additional charge sheet filed by the investigating agency in the case.

In April 2016, in another case the court ordered framing of charges against Jindal, Madhu Koda, former Minister of State of Coal D. Narayan Rao, former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and others for alleged offences under criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the matter.