New Delhi, 03 September (HS). The Delhi High Court has reserved its decision on the demand to suspend the sentence given by the trial court to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda in the coal scam case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna reserved the decision after hearing the arguments of both the sides.
The High Court had issued a notice to the CBI on May 8. During the hearing, the CBI opposed Madhu Koda’s petition and said that the High Court has already ordered the dismissal of a similar petition in this case. In such a situation, this petition is not worth hearing. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Koda has said in the petition that he wants to contest the Jharkhand Assembly elections. Jharkhand Assembly elections are likely in November 2024. If his sentence is not suspended, he will not be able to contest the assembly elections.
On December 16, 2019, the Patiala House Court sentenced Madhu Koda, former coal secretary HC Gupta, former Jharkhand chief secretary AK Basu and Vijay Joshi to three years of imprisonment each. Apart from this, Madhu Koda was ordered to pay a fine of Rs 25 lakh, Vijay Joshi Rs 25 lakh, HC Gupta Rs 1 lakh, AK Basu Rs 1 lakh and Vini Iron and Steel Company Rs 50 lakh. Madhu Koda has demanded the suspension of this order of the Patiala House Court.
