PTI
New Delhi: A special court Friday allowed former Union minister of state for coal Dilip Ray, an accused along with five others in a coal scam case, to travel to Thailand and China.
Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar who had granted bail to Ray and others February 26, passed the order on an application moved by the politician seeking permission to go abroad from April 9 to 29 for business-related work.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Brahmadiha coal block in Giridih in Jharkhand to Castron Technologies Ltd (CTL) in 1999.
The CBI, however, opposed Ray’s plea stating this could result in delay in trial. It also said Ray may misuse permission and not return to face trial in the case.
The judge, however, granted the permission saying, ‘‘I am of the opinion that it will be in the interest of justice that accused is granted permission to visit abroad…’’ The court asked Ray to furnish in a fixed deposit of `20 lakh as a condition. ‘‘He shall not tamper with evidence nor try to influence any witness in any manner and will not use the permission granted to him contrary to the rules,’’ it said.
The court also asked CBI to supply some deficient documents, annexed with the charge sheet, to Ray and Castron Mining Ltd (CML), also an accused in the case, within a week and posted the matter for scrutiny of documents on April 18.
The court’s direction came on the pleas of Ray and CML seeking copies of deficient documents.
