The owners of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt ltd (JIPl) moved an application before a special court on Thursday and sought summoning of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Minister of State for Coal, Dasari Narayan Rao, as a witness in their defence in the case.
In his application moved, Director RS Rungta, one of the accused in the coal scam, also sought summoning of various documents and said that Singh and Rao would depose about their genuineness.
However, his submission was refuted by Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar who told Rungta’s counsel to first argue on the relevancy of summoning the two as witnesses.
“In the facts and circumstances of the case, I first deem it appropriate to hear the counsel for the accused on the relevancy of summoning these witnesses in his defence. Put up for arguments on the plea on December 8,” said the judge.
On this Rungta said that Manmohan Singh will prove the record of the Coal Ministry and the decision taken by him about constitution of screening committee and its functions and powers.
“Further, the two witnesses (Singh and Rao) named above may also be directed to be summoned to depose about genuineness of the documents being produced from their respective office (as they were holding at the relevant point of time),” the plea said.
Besides RS Rungta, the other two accused -- JIPl and its director RC Rungta -- also submitted their list of witnesses whom they want to examine in their defence and the court has fixed the case for recording of defence evidence on December 19.
The case pertains to the allotment of North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand TO Jharkhand Ispat Pvt ltd allegedly on the basis of false and forged documents.
The court had on November 21 concluded recording of statements of accused in the case.