Special CBI Court, New Delhi: A Special CBI Court of the Patiala House Courts has held former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, ex-Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and others guilty in coal block allocation scam.
Special CBI Court Judge Bharat Parashar sentenced them to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs. 50 lakhs on the Kolkata based Vini Iron & Steel Udyog Limited, Rs. 5,00,000 on Koda and a sum of Rs. 1,00, 000 on Gupta.
The present case is related to irregularities in the allocation of Rajhara North Coal Block in Jharkhand to Vini Iron & Steel Udyog Limited, even when it did not meet the criteria for the allocation.
The Court while holding the former government officers guilty of criminal misconduct by a public servant under Section 13(1)(d)(iii) r/w Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 observed that, “… white collar crimes are in fact more dangerous to the society than ordinary crimes, firstly, because the financial losses are much higher, and, secondly, because of the damages inflicted on public morale.” [CBI v. M/s Vini Iron & Steel Udyog Limited, CC No. 79/16, decided on 16.12.2017]
