Today(on 8th May), Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda is appealing to the Delhi High Court to suspend his conviction in the coal block allocation scam case.
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RANCHI: Today(on 8th May), Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda has approached the Delhi High Court once again, seeking suspension of the order of his conviction in the coal block allocation scam case.
Koda’s plea states-
“The upcoming elections in Jharkhand are slated for November 2024. The applicant, who has previously served as Chief Minister and has been elected as MP and MLA multiple times, fears he will lose the chance to run in these elections if his conviction order is not halted.”
During the hearing, the CBI opposed the plea and objected to the maintainability of the petition.
CBI stated-
“Previously, the High Court dismissed a similar plea with a well-explained decision.”
After hearing the parties, the Delhi HC issued a notice in the matter and fixed the hearing on the maintainability of the application for August 13, 2024.
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Madhu Koda was convicted in 2017 for criminal misconduct and under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. He was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Koda’s plea highlights the urgency of the situation as he wishes to participate in the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand.
“It has been four years since the order dated May 22, 2020, was issued, yet the matter has not been scheduled for a hearing.”
-Koda’s plea states.
Koda had been granted bail in 2018, and a stay on the fine was also provided. However, the Delhi High Court had in 2020 refused the application for a stay on the order of conviction.
Now, with the desire to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, Koda has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking suspension of the order of conviction based on new factual and legal developments. Koda’s plea emphasizes that his criminal appeal has been pending since 2017, and the delay in listing the matter for hearing has caused significant concerns.
The Delhi High Court’s decision on the maintainability of Koda’s application for suspension of the order of conviction will play a crucial role in determining his eligibility to contest the upcoming elections. If the court grants the stay, Koda will have the opportunity to exercise his democratic rights and seek re-election. However, if the court denies his plea, Koda’s political aspirations will face significant obstacles.
The coal block allocation scam case and Madhu Koda’s previous tenure as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand have brought attention to the developments surrounding his plea. Koda’s plea raises important questions about the intersection of criminal convictions and political participation.
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