AMN / NEW DELHI

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a special court to frame bribery charges against Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal and others in connection with a Jharkhand coal block allocation case.

CBI Counsel VK Sharma said the charges for offer and acceptance of the bribe to the public servant punishable under Section 7 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act should be framed.

Justice Bharat Parashar asked the accused to submit their pleas by February 16 before he announces his verdict in the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation case.

In April 2016, the court had ordered the framing of charges against Jindal and others for criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of trust.

The bribery charge was not framed at that time. The investigating agency had also filed another charge against Jindal and others for giving incorrect facts to secure a coal block in Madhya Pradesh.