A special court has awarded a four-year jail term to JIPL directors R S Rungta and R C Rungta in the coal scam case.
The court has also imposed a fine of Rs. 5 lakh each on the Rungtas and Rs. 25 lakh on Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL).
The special court had on March 28 held JIPL guilty of cheating the government to illegally bag a mining block in the state. The arguments on their sentencing had taken place on March 31, after which it had reserved its order on sentence.
Special Judge conducting trial of the coal block allocation scam cases exclusively, Bharat Parashar, also imposed a fine of Rs. 5 lakh each on the two convicts. He also imposed a fine of Rs. 25 lakh on the company, an accused in the case.
“Keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances of the case, coupled with the submissions made and the age of the convict persons, I am of the considered opinion that the interest of justice will be suitably met if both the convicted persons i.e. R.S. Rungta and R.C. Rungta are sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of four years each for the offence u/s 420 IPC and to also pay a fine of Rs. 2,50,000/- (Rupees Two Lakhs Fifty Thousand) each,” Mr. Parashar said in his sentence order.
“As regard the offence under section 120-B and 420 of IPC, sentence both the convict persons R.S. Rungta and R.C. Rungta to rigorous imprisonment for a period of four years each and to also pay a fine of Rs. 2,50,000/- (Rupees Two Lacs Fifty Thousand). It is however directed that the substantive period of sentences shall run concurrently,” the order said.
The case pertains to irregularities in allocation of North Dhadu coal block, by the 27th and 30th screening committees jointly, to JIPL and three other firms — M/s Electro Steel Casting Ltd, M/s Adhunik Alloys and Power Ltd and M/s Pawanjay Steel and Power Ltd.
JIPL and its directors, Rungta brothers, were facing trial for misrepresenting certain facts such as, the land under their possession and the productive capacity of the land. This was done in order to prioritise themselves in the list of those being selected for the coal allocation block. However, the court has now sentenced them to four years of imprisonment.
