A special CBI court on Wednesday held former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former coal secretary HC Gupta and two others guilty of criminal conspiracy and cheating under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Thursday.
The court was hearing a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based firm Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).
The CBI had alleged that the VISUL had applied for allocation of coal block in January 2007.
As per reports, it is said the 36th Screening Committee recommended the block to the VISUL's, not the Jharkhand Government and the Steel Ministry.
Gupta is said to have cleared at least 40 cases of coal mining rights and is said to have played a major role in the said scam.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had claimed that Koda, Basu and two accused public servants conspired to favour VISUL in the coal block allocation.
