LI Network
Published on: 30 May 2023 at 12:27 IST
Two public officials, IAS officer DG Philip and former MLA Avinash Warjukar, have had corruption charges framed against them by a special court in Delhi.
Philip served as the Managing Director of Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Ltd (MSMCL), while Warjukar was the Chairman. The case pertains to the allocation of a coal block in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra.
An undertaking under the Maharashtra Government was allocated the coal block, and MSMCL entered into a joint venture with a private company to operate and extract coal from it.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged irregularities in the selection process of the joint venture partner and the involvement of a financial consultant. The selected joint venture partner allegedly sold and transferred a majority stake to another investor, which violated the agreement. The court framed corruption charges against the two public officials under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The beneficiary company, Sunil HiTech Engineers, was discharged under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as it had undergone liquidation. Another person named Gutte was also discharged as there was no evidence of personal involvement.
However, the court noted that other directors of Sunil HiTech Engineers may be summoned if any evidence emerges. It also stated that AXCKno Capital Services, which advised MSMCL against relaxing conditions for the joint venture partner, could not have been part of the conspiracy with the beneficiary.
The formal framing of charges against Philip and Warjukar is scheduled for July 7.