Coal scam: Rungtas move HC against conviction, CBI reply sought

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of CBI on the appeals filed by Directors of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL), R S Rungta and R C Rungta, challenging their conviction and the four-year sentence awarded to them in a coal scam case.

Justice Siddharth Mridul issued notice to CBI and asked the agency to file its reply on the petitions by May 6, the next date of hearing.

"Issue notice. Advocate Tarannum Cheema (for CBI) accepts notice and seeks time to file reply," the court said.

During the brief hearing, Cheema told the bench that coal scam matters have been monitored by the Supreme Court and the CBI will inform the apex court about these appeals on May 5.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Rungtas, told the court that both R C Rungta and R S Rungta have been awarded four-year jail term by the special court.

A special court had on April 4 sentenced both the Rungtas to jail in the coal scam case, lamenting that India was lagging behind in development due to such "unscrupulous businessmen".

It was the first case in the coal scam which was decided by the special court, constituted exclusively to deal with all such cases.

The court had also imposed a fine of Rs five lakh each on R S Rungta, 79, and R C Rungta, 60, who were convicted on March 28 for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

It had also slapped a fine of Rs 25 lakh on the company JIPL which was also held guilty along with the Rungtas.

Rungtas and JIPL were convicted by the court which had noted that they had "fraudulently" and with a dishonest intention "deceived" government in allocating the North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand to the firm.

Besides this case, 19 other cases investigated by the CBI in the coal scam are pending before the special court. Two other cases probed by ED are also pending before the court.