Ranchi, 14 September (H.S)

The Special Judge, CBI Cases, Rouse Avenue Courts, New Delhi has today convicted Binay Prakash, then Managing Director of M/s Domco Pvt Ltd, Ranchi, Vasant Diwakar Manjrekar and Paramananda Mondal, both then Directors of M/s Domco Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Khandelwal, Chartered Accountant, Kolkata and M/s Domco Pvt Ltd, Ranchi (Jharkhand) in a Coal Scam case.

CBI had registered the instant case against M/s Domco Pvt Ltd Ranchi and its Promoters/Directors and other unknown persons. This case was registered on the basis of a preliminary enquiry initiated by CBI on the directions received from CVC related to coal blocks allocated during the period from 1993 to 2005.

According to a press release the Lalgarh (North) Coal block was identified in favour of the company by the 19th Screening Committee and accordingly, the company was intimated vide MoC letter dated November 24, 2003. It was further alleged that Binay Prakash, Promoter Director of M/s Domco Pvt Ltd entered into a conspiracy with unknown persons and submitted false information to the concerned authorities while applying for a captive coal block and secured allocation of Lalgarh (North) Coal Block.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, the accused allegedly gained pecuniary benefits of Rs 7 crore (approx) by selling shares of the company on premium, after the allocation of the coal block. After investigation, charge-sheet was filed on December 22, 2015 against the accused. The Trial Court found the five accused guilty and convicted them. The case has been postponed for September 15, 2021 for arguments on the quantum of sentence.

Hindusthan Samachar/Sumedha Chaudhury