Coal scam: Court commence recording of statement of accused

Five months after commencement of trial in a coal block allocation scam case, a special court today began recording statements of the accused Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) and its two directors.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar completed recording the statements of two accused -- JIPL and one of its directors R S Rungta, while recording of testimony of another accused, R C Rungta, would continue tomorrow.
During the recording of statements, the accused claimed innocence before the court and denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI.
According to sources, the court has asked around 180 questions each to the accused.

This is the first coal scam case which is nearing finality, as after the recording of statements of the accused, the court would record defence evidence, followed by final arguments.
The court had commenced the trial on June 3 by recording prosecution evidence which concluded on October 30. Senior public prosecutor A P Singh had examined 41 witnesses to substantiate the CBI's case.

JIPL and its two directors were earlier put on trial by the court which had framed charges against them for securing allotment of North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand allegedly on the basis of false and forged documents.

The court had framed charges against the three accused for alleged offences punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of the IPC.
After the court had framed charges against them, all the accused had pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand to JIPL.
The court, while ordering framing of charges against the accused, had noted that it was prima facie clear that they "fraudulently and dishonestly" used forged documents to secure the coal block knowing fully well that the same were forged.

In his plea, Singhal has claimed that co-accused Rajeev
Jain, Director of Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, had purchased New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd at the instruction of Sushil Maroo also working with the Naveen Jindal Group.
"I was also in the practice of selling companies. Rajeev Jain had been purchasing different types of companies from me. I also sold New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd to him. I also handed over all the papers required by him for the purpose of transfer of ownership and management, documentary evidence of which forms part of the records...
"Rajeev Jain in conspiracy with Maroo kept me in the dark and didn't disclose their real purpose. After getting all the transfer papers from me they kept the shares and directors change pending taking the advantage of my good faith which I had for them," he has claimed.

Singhal has further claimed that decision to invest and pay Rs 2 crore to Sowbhagya Media Ltd, allegedly promoted by co-accused and Rao, was carried out at their behest.
The court, while ordering framing of charges, has said Jindal was the "central figure" in the entire criminal conspiracy in the case.
Apart from Jindal, Rao and Koda, the court had also ordered to put on trial former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and 11 others, who were chargesheeted by the CBI in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and GSIPL in 2008.

Besides them, the other 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 them, five firms -- JSPL, JRPL, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd -- are also accused in the case.