Other accused stand on ex-PM summon should be sought: CBI

Special Public Prosecutor R S Cheema told the court that if Koda’s plea is allowed, it will lead to a joint trial of the 15 accused present before the court and the three persons, including Manmohan Singh, who are sought to be summoned by Koda.

“If Koda’s plea is allowed, it will lead to a joint trial with the accused who are here and the persons who are sought to be summoned. We have to see whether all other accused are supporting or opposing the plea,” he told Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar.

The court asked the counsel representing other accused about it and they said they have not gone through Koda’s application and were not aware of the grounds taken by the former chief minister. The court, thereafter, asked Koda to supply the copy of his application to the other accused and posted the matter for further hearing on September 21. 

 The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to two Jindal group companies, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL). Koda, Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal and 13 others were <g data-gr-id="23">chargesheeted</g> by the CBI in the case earlier. The court was hearing Koda’s plea seeking to summon Singh as an additional accused along with Anand Swaroop, the then Secretary (Energy) among others.