Ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda found guilty in UPA-era coal scam

A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and ex-coal secretary HC Gupta after they were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and corruption in a coal-block allocation scam case.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar convicted the duo along with three others for irregularities in the allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based private company, Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).

Besides the former chief minister and Gupta, others who have been held guilty are former Jharkhand chief secretary AK Basu, Koda's close aide Vijay Joshi, and the company VISUL under Section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code and Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, which entails maximum punishment of seven years.

Arguments on the sentence will be heard on Thursday.

Four cases have been so far decided among the 30 cases arising out of the coal block allocation scam unearthed during the previous UPA regime.

The court, while announcing the conviction, also acquitted four persons — VISUL's former director Vaibhav Tulsyan and two public servants Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh, and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan of all charges.

Koda is also an accused along with Gupta in another case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand.

Gupta, who was the coal secretary from December 31, 2005 to November 2008, was earlier awarded a two-year jail term for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and corruption in a different coal scam case.