Coal Scam: Sentencing against former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda today

DELHI: A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court will pronounce the quantum of sentence against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Saturday. 

Calling them "criminals holding office", the CBI has sought the maximum sentence of seven-years jail term against Koda, former coal secretary H C Gupta and former Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu who have been convicted in a coal scam case.

On Wednesday, a special CBI court found Koda, Gupta and Basu guilty in a coal block allocation scam case. Koda's close aide Vijay Joshi, along with the company Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL) were also held guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy in the allocation of of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based private company VISUL.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar will pronounce the order today.

"They are criminals holding the office. Its a classic case of corruption involving high public servants," the CBI told the court. 

The eight accused persons were earlier granted bail by the court after they had appeared before it in pursuance to the summons issued against them.