A court hearing the coal block allocation case allegedly involving Congress leader Naveen Jindal on Friday clarified that though there were certain attempts to influence the court, no senior advocate did so.
Special Judge Bharat Parashar's clarification came after senior counsel N. Hariharan submitted before him that on the last date of hearing June 1, this Court observed that there should not be any attempt to over reach the court or influence the Court, thus creating an impression that he was in any manner involved in the said activity.
"...it is again clarified that though there were certain attempts to influence the court but it was never intended to convey that any of the senior advocates much less N. Hariharan or the counsels whose vakalatnamas are on record did that act," the judge said.
But at the same time the court refrained to put anything in black and white opining that it will be in the interest of justice to proceed further with the trial and said, "the only message sought to be conveyed was that no such attempt be made in future by anyone."
The court said that the message was sought to be conveyed to the accused persons through their advocates and it happened to be that Hariharan, being the senior most advocate was leading the battery of lawyers and he responded to the court on behalf of all the lawyers present that day.
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Hariharan again reiterated that he does not intend to support any such client in any form and will not hesitate if the Court in these circumstances even proceeds to cancel the bail of the accused persons also.
He further submitted that thereafter he has enquired from his client and found that there was no such act on behalf of Naveen Jindal.
The court on Monday warned one of the accused without disclosing his name over attempting to approach the judge.
According to court sources, one of the accused had allegedly tried to approach the judge hearing coal block allocation case.
Meanwhile the court allowed Jindal's plea seeking permission to travel abroad from June 10 to to June 29 with various conditions including that he shall not tamper with the evidence nor try to influence any witness in any manner.
Industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, former union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former coal secretary H.C. Gupta with others are facing trial in the case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge.
The CBI has formally charged them with criminal conspiracy, cheating and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
