Coalscam: Court warns Devendra Darda, asks him to be careful

NEW DELHI: Devendra Darda, one of the accused in a coalscam case involving his father and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, was today warned by a special court to be careful in future for his failure to furnish an undertaking before leaving the country.

The court was informed that due to some administrative mistake in Devendra's lawyer office, the initial undertaking could not be filed before it and the delay in filing of the same may be condoned.

"Keeping in view the submissions made and the facts and circumstances of the case, the delay in filing of the undertaking is condoned with a warning to accused (Devendra) to remain careful in future. The undertaking and intimation both be taken on record," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said.

The court had, on November 3, allowed Devendra's plea seeking permission to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, and Stockholm and Filipstad in Sweden from November 8 to November 14 for business activities.

During the proceeding today, the court also heard the arguments on Devendra's plea for modification of the July 23 order requesting waiver of the conditions imposed on him for seeking the court's permission before going abroad.

The court also heard arguments on co-accused Manoj Kumar Jayaswal's plea seeking directions for return of his passport seized by CBI during the probe and subsequently sent to the passport authority who have impounded it.

The court fixed November 27 to pass order on both the plea.

CBI has chargesheeted Vijay Darda, Devendra Darda, Manoj Jayaswal, Director of Nagpur-based AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd, and the firm as accused in a coalscam case for offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) of IPC and under Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court is at present hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case, which is fixed for December 5.