Coal scam: Court grants bail to three top officials of RSPL

The court on March 2, had summoned RSPL and its three top officials as accused for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating

A special court today granted bail to three top officials of Delhi-based Rathi Steel and Power Ltd (RSPL) in a coal scam case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Kesla North coal block in Chhattisgarh to the firm.

RSPL's Managing Director Pradip Rathi, Chief Executive Officer Udit Rathi, and AGM Kushal Aggarwal were enlarged on bail after they appeared before the court in pursuance to the summons issued against them.

The court on March 2, had summoned RSPL and its three top officials as accused for the alleged offences under sections 120-B(Criminal Conspiracy) and 420(cheating)of IPC.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar granted bail to three individual accused on a personal bond for Rs 1 lakh each and surety of the like amount.

During the brief arguments, the counsel appearing for the accused sought bail on the ground that their clients were not arrested during the investigation and there was no allegation that they have not cooperated in the probe.

Senior Public Prosecutor V K Sharma opposed their bail pleas alleging that they have conspired and misrepresented the facts before the screening committee to acquire the coal block.

While issuing summons to the three officials of RSPL, after taking cognisance of CBI's charge sheet, the court had observed that they allegedly "deceived" the Ministry of Coal (MoC) by "misrepresenting" facts regarding possession of land which was an important factor in allocation of coal block.

It had noted that these officials had appeared before the screening committee for making presentation and submitting a feedback form on February 7, 2008 on behalf of RSPL.

The CBI had chargesheeted the firm and Udit Rathi only as accused in the case for alleged offence of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the IPC.

CBI had lodged an FIR against RSPL, its directors, Udit Rathi and members of the 36th screening committee and other unknown persons for the offences under section 120-B, 420 of IPC and under provision of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The charge sheet was later on filed against RSPL and Udit Rathi only. Regarding other directors of RSPL or members of the 36th screening committee, CBI had said that allegations against them could not be substantiated during the probe.