Coal scam: Court concludes recording of prosecution evidence

A special court today concluded recording of prosecution evidence in a coal block allocation scam case in which Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) and its two directors R C Rungta and R S Rungta are facing trial.
As the court completed the recording of statement of investigating officer Bodh Raj Hans, senior public prosecutor A P Singh said he wanted to close the prosecution evidence at this stage.
"At this stage, senior public prosecutor A P Singh has made a statement closing prosecution evidence. Accordingly, prosecution evidence stands closed," the court said.
The court has now fixed the matter for November 20 for recording of statements of the accused.

"Case is now adjourned for recording of statement of accused persons under section 313 CrPC on November 20," it said.
CBI has examined 39 witnesses in the 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 three 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 its charge sheet, CBI had alleged that it had found in the probe that JIPL had "grossly misrepresented" a number of aspects before Ministry of Steel (MoS) and Ministry of Coal (MoC) to inflate their claim, thereby inducing MoC officers and the screening committee to allocate the coal block to them.