The Patiala House Court on Monday sentenced Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd's directors RS Rungta and RC Rungta to four years' imprisonment in connection with the coal block allocation scam in the state's North Dhadu block, reported PTI. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on both convicts, along with asking the company to pay Rs 25 lakh. On March 28, a special court had convicted the company and the Rungtas in the scam. They were accused of criminal conspiracy and cheating, but acquitted of two forgery charges, The Indian Express reported.

In the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, it was alleged that JIPL had “grossly misrepresented” a number of aspects before the Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Coal to inflate their claim, which had prompted ministry officials and the screening committee to allocate the coal block to them. The accused had pleaded not guilty and appealed for a trial last March, denying the allegations.