Jindal, Dasari chargesheeted

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday chargesheeted former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda, former minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former coal secretary H.C. Gupta, senior Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal and 11 others, including five private firms, over the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation scam.

The chargesheet was filed under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating), and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court has fixed a hearing on Thursday.

Jindal Steel said it was “shocked to know about filing of a chargesheet by CBI”, and added the “allocation was made on merit”.

A statement by the firm said: “During the course of the investigation, the company and its officials fully cooperated with the authorities, and whenever asked, explained and provided all the supporting documents”.

Jindal Steel’s statement added: “We deny all allegations made against our company and its management. We will be availing appropriate remedy in accordance with the law. We have full faith in our judiciary and are confident to come out clean during the process. JSPL has created a world class steel manufacturing and power generation infrastructure in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. The company has created over 20,000 jobs and anchors an employment eco-system for 50,000 families. JSPL is proud of its achievements and is confident of marching forward in its vision of building a nation of our dreams.”

The CBI alleged that JSPL and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Limited had bagged Jharkhand’s Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in 2008 by misrepresenting of facts when Mr Rao was the minister of state for coal. Jindal Group had been favoured by the Jharkhand government which had dropped other firms.