Coal blocks allocation irregularities in India, dubbed as “Coalgate scam” by the Media, came to light in 2012 after the National Auditor general reported that Rupees 1.86 Lakh Crore had been lost due to the illicit method of allocation of coal blocks by the government, which didnot involve bidding for the blocks by the firms.
Most of these allocations have been made by the former UPA government in its rule. The Supreme Court of India, in its judgement last year, ruled the allocation of nearly 300 coal licenses issued since 1993 as illegal and cancelled the licenses.
The CBI investigated into the case and submitted a charge-sheet accusing people relating to the scam. In a bid to escape a arrest, the acquitted Congress leader and Industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Union minister Dasari Narayan Rao and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, appeared in a Delhi court in connection with a coal scam case, appealing for a grant of Anticipatory Bail, the NDTV reports.
Mr Jindal, Mr Rao, Mr Koda and 12 others were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs. one lakh.
They were all summoned today over alleged irregularities in the allocation of a coal mining block in Jharkhand.
Granting Bail to the accused, the Delhi Court has ordered not to leave the country.