New Delhi:- Anguished over repeated pleas for adjournment, a special court today slapped a cost of Rs 15,000 on a top official of Gondwana Ispat Ltd’s (GIL) accused in a coal scam case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the allocation of a Maharashtra coal block to the firm.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar however gave a last opportunity to accused GIL Director Ashok Daga, making it clear that such requests for adjournment cannot be “repeatedly entertained”.
The court’s order came when Daga’s counsel Shyam Dewani sought an adjournment and sought time to address arguments on the point of charge, stating that he was not yet prepared. The court noted that yesterday too, an adjournment was given as the advocate was not available.
“Such a request on behalf of accused no. 2 Ashok Daga cannot be repeatedly entertained. However, in the interest of justice one last opportunity is given, subject to a cost of Rs 15,000,” the judge said.
During the hearing, the defence counsel said he was seeking a date due to some personal difficulty and cost should not be imposed.
The court, however, made it clear that either the accused should advance arguments on point of charge or pay the cost, otherwise it would take him into custody.
It also directed the prosecution to supply to the accused, the statements of all other persons recorded during the investigation and not given to them earlier.
The court’s direction came when Daga’s counsel said the investigating officer should clarify whether he had recorded the statements of any of the witnesses during the probe.
The submission was opposed by CBI prosecutors Sanjay Kumar and A P Singh saying the prosecution was only required to supply statements of those witnesses which are being relied upon by them.
Daga was granted bail by the court on February 12 when he appeared before it in pursuance to summons.
The court had summoned GIL and Daga as accused for allegedly misrepresenting facts to get the Majra coal block in Maharashtra allocated to it in 2003. An FIR was lodged in the matter in 2014 against them for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating.
CBI has alleged in the charge sheet that Daga had made “unsubstantiated claim even towards financial preparedness and tie-up regarding iron ore with Odisha government”. It had also claimed that after allocation, Daga had filed an undertaking that he will install the plant or develop the coal mine, but he had sold off the company to Nand Kishore Sarda in October 2005 earning huge profit.
PTI
