Coal scam: Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda allowed to travel to UK

Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, who along with others, has been chargesheeted in a coal blocks allocation case, was today granted permission by a special court to travel to the United Kingdom for a week to attend a social function.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar allowed the application filed by Darda to travel to London from September 23 to 30.
"Keeping in view the submissions of the counsel, accused no. 2 Vijay Darda is being granted permission to travel to London from September 23-30 on same conditions as imposed earlier," the court said.
During the hearing, the court was initially reluctant to give permission to Darda to travel abroad saying he could be permitted to travel abroad for business purposes but not for attending social gatherings.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Darda, told the court that his client may be allowed to go abroad as the case was listed for arguments on framing of charges on September 26.
He assured the court that his client will not move any plea seeking permission to travel abroad once the trial in the case begins. Aggarwal submitted Darda was earlier also allowed by the court to travel abroad thrice.

The special court was hearing the case in which CBI had named in its charge sheet Vijay Darda, his son Devendra Darda, Manoj Jayaswal, director of Nagpur-based AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd, and the firm as accused for offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) of the IPC and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court had earlier granted bail to the three accused after they had appeared before it in pursuance to the summons issued against them.
Vijay Darda, Devendra, Jayaswal and the firm were named as accused in the charge sheet filed by CBI on March 27 in which it had alleged that they had fraudulently acquired the coal blocks. They have denied the allegations levelled against them by CBI.