India

Delhi High Court Reserves Decision On Madhu Koda’s Stay Petition In Coal Scam Case

The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda’s petition. Koda seeks a stay on his conviction in the coal scam case, arguing that this stay is crucial for his participation in the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that both Koda’s and the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) written arguments have been submitted.

The CBI opposed Koda’s request, arguing it is not maintainable. Senior advocate RS Cheema, representing the CBI, pointed out that the court dismissed a similar petition by Koda in May 2020. The CBI also emphasized that the court had previously stressed the need to decriminalize politics, and no appeal had challenged that ruling.

Previous High Court Ruling

In May 2020, the Delhi High Court had rejected Koda’s request to stay his conviction. The court ruled that allowing Koda to contest elections before full acquittal would be inappropriate. The court cited widespread opinion supporting the disqualification of individuals accused of serious offenses from holding public office.

Koda, along with former coal secretary H.C. Gupta, former Jharkhand chief secretary A.K. Basu, and close aide Vijay Joshi, received a three-year prison sentence from the trial court. They faced convictions for corruption and criminal conspiracy related to the allocation of the Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL), a Kolkata-based company.

Also Read: RG Kar Financial Scam: Sandip Ghosh Sent To 8 Days CBI Custody

Gopal Krishna

Recent Posts

India Posts $13.5 Billion Current Account Surplus In Q4 FY25: RBI

India recorded a current account surplus of $13.5 billion or 1.3% of GDP in Q4…

2 mins ago

PM Modi Pays Tribute To Acharya Vidyanand Ji Maharaj On His Centenary Year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the centenary celebrations of Acharya Vidyanand Ji Maharaj at Vigyan…

17 mins ago

Ram Temple In Ayodhya Draws Over 55 Million Devotees Since Consecration

Since the consecration of Lord Ram at the Ram Temple on January 22, 2024, Ayodhya…

18 mins ago

Over 70% Of Indian Startups Now Rely On AI For Core Business Functions: Meta Report

India’s startup ecosystem is witnessing a major shift, with over 70% of startups now integrating…

30 mins ago

India’s Economic Outlook Remains Positive Amid Global Headwinds: Finance Ministry

India’s economic outlook remains positive in the face of global turbulence, according to the Ministry…

33 mins ago

Govt’s Infrastructure Drive Spurs Manufacturing Confidence, Says Report

A Cushman & Wakefield report says 88% of Indian manufacturers made investment decisions influenced by…

45 mins ago