Coal scam: Koda's plea for summoning ex-PM Manmohan Singh devoid of any merits, says CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told special court on Monday that ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Madhu Koda's plea for summoning ex-PM Manmohan Singh as accused in a coal scam case is devoid of any merits.

Ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao had supported Koda's plea seeking summoning of Manmohan Singh, who was also the then Coal Minister, claiming that the office of the then Prime Minister had allocated a coal block to Jindal group after examining and re-examining the matter.

Koda, Rao and 13 others, including former MP Naveen Jindal, were chargesheeted by CBI in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand to Jindal group firms -- Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL).