Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, ex-Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu and six others have been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a coal block allocation scam case.
The Supreme Court declined to examine a plea challenging a PMLA provision, stating the issue lies in the law's abuse, not the law itself. The court allowed the petitioner to approach the High Court if procedures weren't followed.
'Birla only made representations to then PM for coal blocks allocation.'
The Bharatiya Janata Party charged the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government on Friday of shielding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his alleged role in the coal allocation scam by forcing former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar to quit his post.
Rejecting the plea, the court said the application was "vexatious" and it was apparently moved to delay the trial.
Acting in the coal block allocation scam, the Central Bureau of India on Tuesday filed cases against five companies for alleged criminal conspiracy and misrepresentation of facts, naming Congress MP Vijay Darda and his brother Rajendra Darda, a Maharashtra Minister, in one of the FIRs.
The court posted the matter for September 26 after the CBI informed that it was likely to file a supplementary final report in the case by September 22.
Setting off a political bombshell, Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha on Friday submitted before the Supreme Court that the agency's status report on coal allocation scam was "shared" with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar "as desired by him" and that senior officials of PMO and Coal ministry had also seen it.
Renowned names from India Inc and politics are chargesheeted by the CBI before a special court in a coal blocks allocation scam case.
Demanding a probe into fresh reports in the allocation of 142 coal blocks by United Progressive Alliance government, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it is "truly amazing" that relatives and associates of union ministers have made such gains soon after the latter occupied the high offices.
Special court was that Manmohan Singh took the "ultimate decision" as the then coal minister in allocation of the blocks.
Main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday once again targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha on missing files pertaining to coal mines allocation saying the scam is "monumental" and demanded that he clarify on it.
Former coal secretary and four others, including two serving government officials, were on Friday granted bail by a special court in connection with a coal blocks allocation scam case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation was on Tuesday directed by a special court to record statements of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was holding charge as Coal Minister in 2005, and others in a coal blocks allocation scam case allegedly involving top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla.
The Central Bureau of Investigation could question Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of coal block to Hindalco as he had written a letter to the Coal Ministry after application of the Aditya Birla company was rejected in 2005.
While the BJP is baying for the resignation of Law Minister Ashwini Kumar, the Congress is worried that the issue could create serious trouble for the government, reports Renu Mittal
A non-government organisation on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking a special investigation team probe into alleged "blatant" interference by the Centre into the Central Bureau of Investigation probe of the coal block allocation scam.
Taking note of the draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on allotment of coal blocks without auction, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the allotment of coal blocks and monitoring of the probe by a court.
Besides the jail term, the special court also imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh on Koda and Rs one lakh on Gupta.
A businessman-journalist and Rajya Sabha member from the ruling Congress party, Vijay Darda has recently shot into national limelight, but, for all the wrong reasons -- he has become embroiled in the coal-gate scam that has currently swept the nation.
The apex court said the present CBI director would head the special investigation team which would look into the report of the apex court-appointed panel headed by M L Sharma, a former special director of the agency, that had prima facie indicted Sinha in the matter.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has sought filing of first information report against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the alleged coal block allocations, prompting the government to conduct an exercise to ascertain how he could be safeguarded from any legal wrangling.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to question Congress Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal this week in connection with its First Information Report against him and his company for alleged cheating while applying for coal block.
The court said that it would now consider the CBI's final report
The agency filed the report before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar and said that it contains a detailed report of investigation being carried out in the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to register more than one first information reports in the alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks after it came across several cases of violation of norms by state government officials and allottees.
Uproar over coal block allocation issue paralysed proceedings of Parliament for the 12th consecutive day today, drowning most of the Monsoon Session which ends on Friday. As soon as Parliament met for the day, Bharatiya Janata Party members were on their feet in both Houses and raised slogans demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over the coal block allocation issue.
Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, ex-Coal Secretary H C Gupta, former Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu and six others were on Tuesday ordered to be put on trial by a special court on charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating in connection with a coal block allocation scam case.
The special court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation if the then coal minister was examined by it in a coal scam case involving Kumar Mangalam Birla and others.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to give any further hearing on the pleas of companies which were illegally allocated coal blocks by the government.
The stalemate in Parliament over coal block allocations entered its tenth day on Tuesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party persisted with its demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till noon after the Opposition triggered ruckus on the issue.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was summoned as an accused in a coal block allocation case, but the Supreme Court intervened and stayed the directive. Singh, a renowned economist and politician, questioned the absence of mandated sanction for prosecuting public officials and denied any wrongdoing in the coal block allocation. The Supreme Court's decision highlights the complexities of government functions and criminal prosecution in cases involving public officials.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday registered a fresh case against Kumar Mangalam Birla in coal allocation scam.
Govt went against its own recommendation of Jun 20, 2007, where along with the 2 Jindal companies, it wanted 40% coal block to go to Lanco.
The agency said files of the case were sent to competent authority.
Watch Live! Jaiswal and Chidambaram's press conference on the coal scam
A determined opposition on Tuesday forced the adjournment of Parliament demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the CAG report on coal block allocation
In another huge embarrassment to the government after the 2G fiasco, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has estimated a Rs 10.6 lakh crore loss to the exchequer on account of allotment of coal blocks during 2004 to 2009 without auction to 100 private and public sector companies.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain reiterated on Monday that his party was firm on its demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should resign over the coalgate issue because "he is directly responsible for the corruption".
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