Coal scam: CBI concludes arguments on charges in JSPL's case

CBI today wrapped up its arguments on framing of charges in a coal scam case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand to industrialist Naveen Jindal's two firms.
"Further arguments on charge on behalf of prosecution have been heard. Arguments on charge on behalf of prosecution as well as on behalf of accused persons have been concluded," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said.
During the hearing, some of the accused said they want to file written submissions on some of the issues raised by the agency during the arguments.
The court asked them to file their submissions by January 5 and posted the matter for consideration on February 1.

CBI had earlier argued that the accused had conspired with each other to get the coal block and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda had "favoured" Jindal's two firms - Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL).
It had alleged that the entire system in Jharkhand government was "manipulated" to favour Jindal group companies so that coal block could be allocated to JSPL and GSIPL.

All the accused, including Naveen Jindal, Koda, former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, have denied the allegations levelled by CBI.

Jindal, Rao, Koda, Gupta and 11 others were chargesheeted by CBI in the case.
Besides them, the other individual accused are -- Rajeev Jain, Director of Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Girish Kumar Suneja and Radha Krishna Saraf, Directors of GSIPL, Suresh Singhal, Director of New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd, K Ramakrishna Prasad, Managing Director of Sowbhagya Media Ltd and chartered accountant Gyan Swaroop Garg.
These accused are currently out on bail.
Besides the ten accused, five firms -- JSPL, Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd -- are also accused in the case.