Three get bail in coal block case

A special court on Wednesday granted bail to three persons accused in a coal block case relating to alleged irregularities in allocation of a coal block in Jharkhand.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge Bharat Parashar granted bail to two directors of Pawanjay Steel and Power Ltd (PSPL) - Gyanchand Prasad Agarwal and Umesh Prasad Agarwal, and S.K. Kanungo, Chief Manager (Marketing) of Hari Machines Ltd (HML).

The CBI had registered case for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against PSPL, its officials, Kanungo and other unknown persons.

"I am of the considered opinion that the interest of justice will be suitably met if the accused persons are ordered to be released on bail upon their furnishing a personal bond and a surety bond each in the sum of Rs one lakh each, to the satisfaction of this court," said the judge.

The three accused were directed not to leave the country without the court's prior permission, not tamper with evidence or approach prosecution witnesses.

--IANS

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