Darda, son get bail, 20th FIR registered

Seeking bail, their counsel said the investigation in the case is still on and they should be granted relief as they have not been arrested in the case till now. The court said the accused have fully co-operated with investigation. ‘No purpose would be served by sending them into custody. The bail application is hence allowed,’ the judge said.

The CBI opposed the bail pleas saying the allegations levelled against the accused are serious in nature and the accused are very influential persons. ‘If granted bail, they would try to win over witnesses and may tamper with the evidence,’ said the CBI prosecutor.

On the other hand, the defence counsel said that Darda and two others have not breached the summons and have appeared in court as per its order. ‘We are law abiding citizens and we are bound by the restrictions imposed by the court of law. Investigation in the case has been going on for the past 2-3 years and till date my clients have not affected the probe in any manner. This is a bald apprehension which is raised by the CBI,’ said defense counsel Majid Memon.

Meanwhile, the CBI has registered a fresh FIR in the coal scam against Nagpur-based Jayaswal Neco Industries and unknown public servants making it the 20th case in the scam in which a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore was projected by CAG. Agency sources said the case against the company has been registered for alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

They said the allegations pertain to excess mining of coal beyond the approved quantum from Gare Palma-4 coal block in Raigad in Maharashtra and its consumption in captive power plant in an irregular manner. Agency teams carried out coordinated searches at the firm’s office in Nagpur, two places in Raipur and one place in Raigad, they said.

Company officials said they will give their comment once the searches were over.

‘We condemn the action. There is no freedom of speech in the BJP-ruled state. The police is working under political influence,’ Goa Congress spokesman Durgadas Kamat told reporters on Friday.