Court seeks progress report in coal case against AMR

A special court on Friday told the CBI to file the progress report on further investigation in a coal block allocation case allegedly involving Rajya Sabha parliamentarian Vijay Darda and AMR Iron and Steel.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar posted the matter for June 4 for filing of progress report of further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted that no information had yet been received from the competent authority regarding according of sanction to prosecute accused L.S. Janoti in the case.

The court on January 30 said then minister of state for coal Santosh Bagrodia, ex-coal secretary H.C. Gupta and ministry section officer L.S. Janoti prima facie committed criminal misconduct and facilitated AMR Iron and Steel in obtaining of Bander Coal Block unlawfully.

The court has ordered further probe, saying prior sanction of the competent authority was required to prosecute public servant for the offence punishable under the graft charges.

Vijay Darda, and his son Devendra Darda, director of AMR Iron and Steel Manoj Jayaswal and the firm have been charged with criminal conspiracy, and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

All three are out on bail.