Coal Allocation Case: Decision to allocate coal taken by Manmohan Singh, says Rao

ALSO READ: Court grants bail to Naveen Jindal, Rao, Koda and others

Rao stated in the court that he had only “forwarded the notes” regarding the allocation of the coal block and it was Singh who took the “final decision” on the allocation. “The final decision was taken by the coal minister, who was the then prime minster. My client was not involved in the final decision…,” Rao’s counsel argued.

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After hearing the submissions of the 10 accused, special judge Bharat Parashar granted conditional bail to Rao, Jindal, Koda, former coal secretary H C Gupta and the others, directing them that they “shall not tamper” with the prosecution evidence or “approach” the prosecution witnesses in any manner. The court has also asked the accused not to leave India without its permission.

“Without entering into any further detailed merits or demerits of the case at this stage of the matter, deem it appropriate that the interest of justice will be suitably met if all the 10 accused persons are released on bail upon their furnishing a personal bond and a surety bond each in the sum of Rs one lakh each,” the judge said.

Former coal secretary H C Gupta also argued that the screening committee was mere a “recommending body” and that the final decision was taken by the then coal minister. “Being the chairman of the screening committee, I (Gupta) was required to forward the recommendations to the coal minister, who was the then prime minister. Screening committee was only a recommending body,” senior advocate Ramesh Gupta argued.

The other accused who were granted bail are Suresh Singhal, director of New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd, Rajeev Jain, director of Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Girish Kumar Suneja and Radha Krishna Saraf, directors of Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL), K Ramakrishna Prasad, MD of Sowbhagya Media Ltd, and chartered accountant Gyan Swaroop Garg.

Meanwhile, Jindal’s counsel argued that he as joined the investigation as when required and that he would continue to cooperate in the probe.

However, senior public prosecutor V K Sharma opposed the bail plea, arguing most of the prosecution witnesses were employees of various industries of the accused persons and there were chances of tampering with evidence.