CBI chargesheets Naveen Jindal, Dasari Narayan Rao in coal block allocation scam

New Delhi: 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”.