CBI granted time to file report in coal case against Jindal

A court here on Monday allowed the CBI's plea for more time to file its final report in a coal block allocation case against former Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal and others.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar granted two more weeks to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after Investigating Officer of the case informed the court that the report has been forwarded to senior authorities and was awaiting approval.

The court has now fixed the matter for next hearing on February 29.

The court had pulled up the CBI for not filing the final report in the case in a proper manner and format.

The final investigation report has to be filed on the basis of the statement given by prosecution witness, Chartered Accountant and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd Director Suresh Singhal, who has turned approver in the case.

The court was hearing the case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge.

Besides the industrialist, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta are also accused in the case.

The CBI in April 2015 filed a chargesheet against Jindal, Koda, Rao and Gupta.

The others accused in the case include Jindal Realty Director Rajeev Jain, Gagan Sponge Directors Girish Kumar Juneja and R.K. Saraf and Sowbhagya Media's Managing Director K. Ramakrishna.

Of the five private companies named in the chargesheet, four are based in Delhi and one in Hyderabad.

The accused have denied the charges.

--IANS

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