Coal block case: Court allows CBI to place more documents

A special court here on Saturday allowed the CBI's application seeking permission to place on record some fresh documents and adding names of six more witnesses in a coal block allocation case involving Delhi-based Rathi Steel and Power Limited (RSPL) and its three officials.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar allowed the plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which held that the six witnesses were inadvertently not mentioned in the list of witnesses at the time of filing of charge sheet by the investigating agency.

The court said: "It will be also worthwhile to mention that the present case is at its initial stage and the recording of evidence of prosecution witnesses is yet to commence and thus in my considered opinion, no prejudice will be caused to the accused persons if the present application is allowed."

The case pertians to allocation of Kesla North coal block in Chhattisgarh to Rathi Steel and Power Ltd.

The court on May framed charges of cheating against RSPL and its CEO Udit Rathi. It also framed charges of criminal conspiracy against Rathi, RSPL and managing director Pradeep Rathi and assistant general manager Kushal Aggarwal.

All the accused had pleaded not guilty and asked for a trial.