Former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda, eight others charged in coal scam

Former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda

A special CBI court on Friday formally charged former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and seven others in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Rajhara north (central and eastern) coal block in Jharkhand.

The court also put on trial other accused, which comprised former Jharkhand Chief Secretary Ashok Kumar Basu, two government officials, Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh, Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd, its director Vaibhav Tulsyan, Koda’s alleged aide Vijay Joshi and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan.

The court framed the charges after the accused did not plead guilty and claimed trial in the case. The court has now fixed the matter for hearing on August 17.