New Delhi: In a fresh turn of events, the CBI today told a special court that some documents and quizzing of an accused who wanted to turn approver, has brought to light the complicity of some more persons in a coal scam case in which Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal is one of the several accused.
The probe agency also told Special Judge Bharat Parashar that there was a need for further investigation in view of revelations made by co-accused Suresh Singhal, a Jindal Group chartered accountant who has sought the nod to turn approver in the case.
The court, which was to pronounce its order on allowing or disallowing the plea of Singhal to become approver, directed CBI to file the statements of Singhal in a sealed cover and fixed the matter for further hearing on July 11.
The CBI apprised the court about the new turn of events with regard to complicity of some more persons in the case while arguing on the plea of Singhal. Earlier, the agency had agreed to the plea of Singhal.
“The investigating officer submits that Singhal has joined the probe during which complicity of various other persons have come and their examination is required,” the court noted in its order, while fixing the matter for further hearing on July 11.
It further said, “I need the statement (of Singhal) in a sealed cover.”
Jindal, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and 12 others are accused in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and GSIPL in 2008.
During the arguments on Singhal’s plea, the CBI, which had earlier given its nod to make him an approver in the case, said that “accused (Singhal) was not the main beneficiary and was only a part used in the money transaction.”
“It’s one of the most appropriate cases where further probe needs to be done. He has given several new evidences,” the agency said while opposing the statements of the accused persons that Singhal should not be pardoned and allowed to turn approver in the case.
