The court noted that the Supreme Court's recent order showed that the inquiry, to be conducted by former CBI Special Director M L Sharma, was to primarily focus on the alleged meetings Sinha had with Vijay Darda and his son Devendra Darda, involved in coal block allocation case, at his residence in the absence of investigating officers (IO).
The probe has been ordered against Sinha, who has been accused of meeting the Dardas and others and scuttling the coal scam investigation.
"In view of the aforesaid circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that in order to ensure that no hindrance is caused in the said inquiry proceedings, it will be appropriate that accused/applicant Vijay Darda is not granted permission to leave India, as prayed for in the present application," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said.
The judge clarified that Devendra shall also not leave India during the pendency of the inquiry proceedings without seeking specific permission from the court.
"A bare perusal of the order of Supreme Court....Shows that beside any other aspect the inquiry is to primarily focus on the alleged meetings of the then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha with accused Vijay Darda and Devendra Darda involved in coal block allocation matters at his residence in the absence of the IOs," the court noted in its order while dismissing a plea by Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda to go abroad.
The other accused in the case are former Coal Secretary H C Gupta, two senior government servants, K S Kropha and K C Samria, businessman Manoj Kumar Jayaswal and the firm.
The accused were earlier granted bail by the court which is scheduled to hear the case on September 29.