Court convicts Rungtas in Jharkhand coal scam

New Delhi: A special court dealing with irregularities in coal block allocations in Jharkhand convicted the directors of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL), RS Rungta and RC Rungta, Monday, pronouncing its first judgement regarding the case.

The Court convicted them for offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating. The arguments on quantum of sentence for the convicted will begin on March 31.

The case involves JIPL and its directors R S Rungta and R C Rungta who are accused of acquiring the coal block allegedly on the basis of false and forged documents.

The court had on March 21 last year framed charges against them 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) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of IPC.

All the accused had pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, while refuting the allegations levelled against them by CBI.

On December 23 last year, the court had dismissed R S Rungta's plea to summon former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao as defence witnesses in the case.

The court had granted Rungtas bail on January 14 last year on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each and with one surety of the like amount. In its charge sheet, CBI had alleged that during the probe, it was found that JIPL had "grossly misrepresented" a number of aspects before Ministry of Steel (MoS) and Ministry of Coal (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.

CBI had 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 had claimed that some records of MoC relating to the case were stated to be missing and a separate preliminary enquiry has been registered by CBI.

This is the first verdict in a coal scam case. Here is a timeline:

2013: CBI registers a case against Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) and others pertaining to joint allocation of North Dhadu Coal Block in Jharkhand.

2014: CBI files charge sheet against JIPL, R S Rungta, R C Rungta, Ramabatar Kedia and Naresh Mahto, for offences of conspiracy, cheating and forgery under IPC.

Dec 18, 2014: Court takes cognisance on CBI's charge sheet, summons the five for January 14, 2015.

Jan 14, 2015: JIPL Directors R S Rungta and R C Rungta granted bail by the court. CBI informs court that Ramabatar Kedia and Naresh Mahto have died.

Feb 16: Court commences hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case.

Mar 9: Court orders framing of charges against JIPL, R C Rungta and R S Rungta for offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of IPC.

Mar 16: Court frames charges against JIPL, Rungtas, who plead not guilty and claim trial.

Jun 3: Court commences recording of evidence in the case.

Oct 30: Court concludes recording of prosecution evidence during which 39 CBI witnesses are examined.

Nov 20: Court commences recording of statement of those charged.

Nov 21: Court concludes recording of statements.

Nov 26: R S Rungta seeks to summon former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao as witnesses in his defence.

Dec 8: Court reserves order on plea to call Manmohan Singh and Dasari Narayan Rao as defence witnesses.

Dec 23: Court dismisses plea to call former PM and ex-MoS as defence witnesses.

Jan 21, 2016: Court concludes recording of defence evidence.

Feb 11: Final arguments in the case begins.

Feb 22: Court concludes hearing final arguments, reserves verdict.

Mar 28: Court convicts JIPL, R S Rungta and R C Rungta of offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating.