The Jharkhand High Court on 29th August 2025 dismissed a criminal revision petition filed by former Chief Minister Madhu Koda in the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification scam. Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary said that there was no illegality in the order of the trial court and declined to interfere. During the hearing, the High Court examined arguments presented by both Koda and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court noted that questions relating to admissibility of evidence or merits of allegations could not be considered at the stage of discharge. Referring to the principle laid down in Vinay Tyagi vs Irshad Ali, the bench refused to quash proceedings, thereby upholding the lower court’s order.
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Charges of Bribe and Misuse of Power
According to the CBI, Koda misused his position as Chief Minister to allegedly accept a bribe of Rs. 11.40 crores in Mumbai from IVRCL director D.K. Srivastava. In return, the Hyderabad-based company was awarded contracts for rural electrification across six districts, including Garhwa, Palamu and Latehar. The agency has maintained that the favouritism not only caused loss to the state but also undermined the tendering process.
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Trial to Resume After Stay Vacated
Koda, who was granted bail in July 2013, had earlier secured an interim stay from the High Court, which temporarily halted trial proceedings. With the latest order, the stay has been lifted and the trial in the lower court will now continue. The case, which has been under CBI investigation for over a decade, is set to move forward against the former CM and other accused officials.
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