Coalscam: Directors of J'khand-based firm summoned as accused

Directors of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd, R S Rungta and R C Rungta, along with others were today summoned as accused in a coal blocks allocation scam case by a special court which took cognisance of the CBI's charge sheet against them.

Besides the Rungtas, Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also summoned two private persons, Ramabatar Kedia and Naresh Mahto, and the company as accused in the case pertaining to allocation of North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand to Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL).

The court summoned them as accused for January 14 for the alleged offences punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using a forged document as genuine) and 477-A (falsification of accounts) of the IPC.

"Thus in view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, it is prima facie clear that a number of misrepresentations and false claims were knowingly made by M/s JIPL, R C Rungta, R S Rungta, Naresh Mahto and Ramabatar Kedia in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with a view to cheat the Government of India and to induce the MoC (Ministry of Coal) officers, screening committee and MoS officers to allot a coal block to them," the court said.

"Accordingly, I take cognizance of the offence under section 120-B read with sections 420/467/468/471 and 477-A IPC against five accused persons i.e M/s JIPL, R S Rungta, R C Rungta, Ramabatar Kedia and Naresh Mahto," the judge said.

In its charge sheet, the CBI had alleged that during the probe, it was found that JIPL had "grossly misrepresented" on a number of aspects before the Ministry of Steel (MoS) and MoC to inflate their claim and thereby induced the MoC officers and the screening committee to allocate the coal block to them.

CBI alleged that JIPL along with three other firms, M/s Electro Steel Casting Ltd, M/s Adhunik Alloys and Power Ltd and M/s Pawanjay Steel and Power Ltd, was jointly allocated North Dhadu coal block by 27th and 30th screening committee.

The CBI, however, did not charge sheet 12 other accused persons contending there
were no incriminating evidence about their involvement in the commission of offences.

In its charge sheet, CBI alleged that no efforts were made either by the screening committee to verify the claims made by the applicant firm and that MoS also did not develop any methodology for assessment of the applicant companies.

It said some of the records of the MoC related to the case was stated to be missing and a separate preliminary enquiry has been registered by CBI.

CBI said that no involvement of any of the public servants was found in the entire process during its probe.