The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected a plea by
former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda seeking to stay his conviction in a
coal scam case.
Koda had sought a stay on his conviction to enable
him to contest upcoming assembly elections in the state.
"Application dismissed," said Justice
Neena Bansal Krishna.
Koda, former coal secretary H C Gupta, former
Jharkhand chief secretary A K Basu, and Koda's close aide Vijay Joshi were
awarded three-year jail terms by a trial court for indulging in corrupt
practices and hatching a criminal conspiracy in the allocation of Rajhara North
Coal Block in the state to Kolkata-based company, Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd
(VISUL).
It had also imposed fines of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh
and Rs 1 lakh on VISUL, Koda and Gupta respectively in the UPA-era coal scam.
A Rs 1 lakh fine was also imposed on Basu.
The convicts were granted bail during the pendency
of their appeals.