Special court waiting for decision on issue of sanction in coal cases

NEW DELHI: A special court today said it would consider the supplementary final report filed by CBI in a coal scam case only after some finality is arrived on the issue of according sanction to prosecute government servants by the competent authority.

The court observed that certain issues in this respect were involved in a number of other coal blocks allocation scam cases where decision of competent authority on according of sanction to try public servants was "still awaited".

"In the present matter certain issues akin to issues involved in a number of other cases arises for consideration and the said issues primarily pertains to considering according of sanction to prosecute certain public servants by the competent authority. However, decision of the competent authority in the said other cases is still awaited," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said.

"In these circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that it will be in the interest of justice if the present matter is considered further only after some finality is arrived at qua the said issues in the said other cases," the judge said and fixed the matter for June 1.

The court was hearing a coal scam case allegedly involving Vikash Metal and Power Limited ( VMPL) and others.

CBI had filed the supplementary final report on April 7 in pursuance to a order passed by the court in October last year in which it had refused to accept the closure report and had directed the agency to further probe the case.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL.

The case allegedly involves VMPL and its officials in which they are accused of making false claims relating to land allocation to get undue advantage in coal block allocation.