Delhi court frames corruption charges against IAS officer and ex-MLA in coal block issue

A special court in Delhi has framed charges in a case pertaining to allocation of a coal block in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra against two public officials.

The Corruption charges have been framed against two public officials – IAS officer DG Philip and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Avinash Warjukar by the Special judge Arun Bhardwaj.

While Philip had held the post of Managing Director of Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Ltd (MSMCL), Warjukar was its Chairman.

An undertaking under Maharashtra Government was allocated the Coal Block.

MSMCL had entered into a joint venture with a private company for operating the coal block and extracting coal from it. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that selection of the joint venture partner was vitiated by irregularities as the tender floated for the selection had many many issues e. 

As per the report, the selected joint venture partner indirectly sold and transferred a majority stake in the joint venture to another investor, which as against the agreement.

The CBI alleged irregularities in the selection of the financial consultant advising MSMCL on the transaction.

The court framed corruption charges against the two public servants under Section 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act. 

Although there were prima facie grounds for charging frame against the beneficiary company, Sunil HiTech Engineers, it got discharged under Section 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 since it had undergone liquidation. 

Another person Gutte was discharged after it was found that he had no personal involvement in the transaction. The order, however, noted that in case any evidence was to come up, other directors of Sunil HiTech Engineers may be summoned. 

It underlined that aXYKno Capital Services had advised MSMCL against relaxing conditions for its joint venture partner, and therefore, could not have been in conspiracy with the beneficiary.

The court will formally frame charges against Philip and Warjukar on July 7.

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