Coalscam: CBI for making accused approver against Jindal, ors

The CBI today gave its nod before a special court here to make an employee of Jindal Group an approver in a coal scam case involving industrialist Naveen Jindal of the group and others as accused.

Jindal, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and 12 others are accused 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.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar has now fixed the matter for June 6 for pronouncing the order on the application of chartered accountant Suresh Singhal, who is also an accused in the case, that he be pardoned and made an approver.

The court reserved its order on Singhal's plea after the probe agency submitted that as per the investigation conducted so far, the accused is likely to help in the prosecution and the CBI had no objection on his application.

Earlier, the court had allowed CBI to quiz Singhal and further probe the matter before answering his application.

During the proceedings, the CBI told the court that the investigation was being conducted in the matter and it had recorded the statement of the accused and had recovered certain documents during the probe.

However, it told the court that the investigation was yet to be completed.

At this, the court told the CBI, "Don't be so slow in the process." During the hearing, the court also took strong note of several accused filing "unnecessary applications" before the court and asked them to refrain from doing so.

"Stop moving unnecessary applications. The case has now moved beyond the point of charge. Reserve applications for genuine reasons. Let the trial begin," the court said, adding that it can take strong action in future.

The court made the observations on an application seeking exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds, without being supported with any medical certificate.

On April 29, the court had ordered framing of charges against the accused for criminal conspiracy, cheating and other offences in Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation scam case.

The court is yet to formally frame charges against the accused.