Coal block case: One accused allowed to go abroad

An accused in the coal block allocation case allegedly involving Jindal Steel was on Monday allowed by a court here to travel abroad.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar allowed Jindal Realty director Rajeev Jain to travel to the US from May 25 to June 5.

The court observed that he had planned a family trip in March itself and counsel for the accused has said he will appear on the date fixed for hearing.

Jain along with industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, former union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former coal secretary H.C. Gupta is facing trial in the case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has formally charged them with criminal conspiracy, cheating and under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. - IANS