Chhattisgarh Coal Scam: Delhi HC Grants Interim Bail to Ex Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda and Son

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim bail to former Rajya Sabha MP and his son Devender Darda, M/S JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd’s Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal.

Recently, they were convicted and sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a coal scam case by a special court in Delhi.

A single-judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice on the pleas filed by Dardas and Jayaswal against the trial court’s order.

The bench also sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation and directed the probe agency to submit its response within eight weeks.

The Case

Dardas and Jayaswal were convicted in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh. The trial court found that they obtained the block by deceiving the government.

Former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and two other former officials, K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samria, were also sentenced to three years in prison by the trial court. However, they were granted bail by the same judge to enable them to challenge their conviction before the High Court.

The trial court had found the accused guilty of criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) and cheating (Section 420) under the Indian Penal Code and other offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Additionally, a fine of Rs. 50 lakhs was imposed on JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd, the entity also convicted in the matter.

Furthermore, the special judge imposed a fine of Rs. 15 lakhs each on the Dardas and Jayaswal, while the other three convicts were directed to pay a fine of Rs. 20,000 each.

The bench then scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 26, 2023.