Delhi High Court Rejects Madhu Koda’s Plea
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who sought to stay his conviction in a coal scam case to contest upcoming elections. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna led the bench that rejected Koda’s application, which aimed to allow him to participate in the upcoming assembly elections.
Background of the Case
Madhu Koda, along with former coal secretary H.C. Gupta, ex-Jharkhand chief secretary A.K. Basu, and aide Vijay Joshi, was sentenced to three years in prison for corruption and conspiracy related to the allocation of the Rajhara North coal block to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd.
Koda’s Argument
Koda argued that with the Jharkhand elections scheduled for November 2024, he would be deprived of the opportunity to contest due to his conviction. He highlighted his past roles as a former Chief Minister and multiple-time MP/MLA.
CBI’s Opposition
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed Koda’s plea, citing that a similar request was denied in May 2020. CBI’s legal team, including Senior Advocate R.S. Cheema and lawyer Tarannum Cheema, emphasized that the issue of decriminalizing politics had been thoroughly considered previously, and Koda’s application was dismissed without appeal.
Previous Conviction
In 2017, Koda was convicted of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, receiving a three-year prison sentence and a fine of INR 5 lakh. Although he was granted bail and a stay on the fine in 2018, the High Court rejected a stay on his conviction in 2020. Koda’s criminal appeal has been pending since 2017, and the case has not been scheduled for a hearing.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a court in India that deals with legal cases in the capital city, New Delhi. It makes important decisions on various legal matters.
Madhu Koda -: Madhu Koda is a politician from India who was once the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, a state in India. He was involved in a legal case related to corruption.
Coal Scam -: The Coal Scam refers to a big corruption case in India where coal blocks were allocated unfairly to companies. It involved misuse of power and illegal activities.
Conviction -: A conviction means that a court has found someone guilty of a crime. In this case, Madhu Koda was found guilty of corruption.
CBI -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation, which is India’s main agency for investigating serious crimes. They opposed Madhu Koda’s plea in court.
Prevention of Corruption Act -: The Prevention of Corruption Act is a law in India that aims to prevent corruption by punishing those who misuse their power for personal gain.
