Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda is making a renewed attempt to suspend the conviction order against him in the coal block allocation scam case, this time by approaching the Delhi High Court. Koda’s plea emphasizes that the elections in Jharkhand are anticipated to take place in November 2024.
He expresses concern that if his conviction is not stayed, he will be unable to participate in these elections. Given his past roles as both Chief Minister and a returning Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Koda fears being deprived of the opportunity to contest in the upcoming polls.
During the recent court hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) objected to Koda’s plea, arguing against its maintainability. The CBI pointed out that a similar plea had been dismissed by the High Court previously, accompanied by a reasoned order. Despite the CBI’s objections, the Delhi High Court has issued a notice regarding the matter. It has scheduled a hearing to determine the maintainability of Koda’s application for August 13, 2024.
Madhu Koda, previously convicted in 2017 for criminal misconduct and under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, is seeking suspension of the conviction order as he aims to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand. The court had sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Although Koda was granted bail and a stay on the fine in 2018, the Delhi High Court denied his application for a stay on the conviction order in 2020.
Now, after four years, Koda has approached the Delhi High Court again, citing new factual and legal developments. He argues that his criminal appeal, pending since 2017, has not been listed for a hearing despite the passage of four years since the order dated May 22, 2020. Koda emphasizes the urgency of his plea, stating that he wishes to contest in the forthcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand.