THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 8: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda has once more approached the Delhi High Court, requesting the suspension of his conviction order in the coal block allocation scam case.
In his petition, Koda highlights concerns that the scheduled November 2024 elections in Jharkhand may hinder his candidacy if his conviction order remains unaddressed.
“The elections in Jharkhand are expected to be conducted in November 2024, and the applicant, previously being the Chief Minister and returning MP, MLA on multiple occasions, would be deprived of the opportunity to contest these elections if the order of his conviction is not stayed,” Madhu Koda mentioned in his petition.
Delhi HC issues notice, next hearing on August 13
The CBI objected to the petition’s maintainability and opposed the plea during the hearing on Wednesday. The CBI claimed that the High Court had already rejected the identical plea with a well-reasoned ruling.
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Following the hearing from the parties, the Delhi High Court issued a notice in the case and scheduled a hearing for August 13, 2024, to determine whether the plea is maintainable.
Delhi HC convicted Madhu Koda in 2017
Prior to this, in 2017, the Delhi High Court found Madhu Koda guilty of criminal misbehaviour and, in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, sentenced him to three years of rigorous jail and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
Koda was later given bail and a stay of the fine in 2018. Nonetheless, the Delhi High Court turned down the request for a stay of the conviction order in 2020.
