Coal scam: Jindal can travel abroad after informing court

Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, chargesheeted by the CBI in a coal scam case, can now travel abroad after intimating the court three days in advance, a special court held today while modifying an earlier condition for his bail.
Jindal filed an application before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar saying the court had imposed a condition in the May 22 bail order that he shall not leave India without prior permission of the court.
Jindal said since he has to travel abroad frequently, the condition imposed on him should be modified to the extent that he may be permitted to go to foreign countries for business purposes subject to furnishing an intimation of his confirmed itinerary to the court and CBI three days prior to his journey.

His plea was opposed by senior public prosecutor V K Sharma saying he should be directed to attend the proceedings in the case on each date.
"I am of the considered opinion that it will be in the interest of justice if the condition imposed upon the accused vide order dated May 22, 2015 directing him to not leave the country without prior permission of this court is modified," the judge said.
"It is accordingly directed that henceforth before leaving the country in connection with his business interests as mentioned above accused shall intimate the court not later than three days before the actual date of journey about his travel plan itinerary and his contact addresses during the said travel," the court said.

The judge, however, clarified that Jindal will have to remain present on each date of hearing unless ordered otherwise.
The court had earlier asked all the accused to complete the process of scrutiny of documents supplied to them by CBI along with the charge sheet by August 17, the next date of hearing.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand to two Jindal group companies, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL).