former parliamentarian and industrialist Naveen Jindal

New Delhi:(IANS) A court here on Wednesday allowed former parliamentarian and industrialist Naveen Jindal, who is accused in a coal block allocation case, to travel abroad after intimating the court three days in advance.

The court gave its permission while accepting Jindal’s plea seeking modification of its bail order that barred him from leaving the country without the court’s permission.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar allowed Jindal’s plea requesting the court to modify its bail order dated May 22 to the extent that he may be permitted to go to other countries for business purposes, subject to furnishing an intimation of his confirmed itinerary to the court and the CBI three days prior to his journey.

He informed the court that he has to travel abroad frequently due to his business.

“I am of the considered opinion that it will be in the interest of justice if the condition imposed upon the accused vide order dated May 22, directing him to not leave the country without prior permission of this court is modified,” the judge said.

“It is accordingly directed that henceforth before leaving the country in connection with his business interests as mentioned above, the accused shall intimate the court not later than three days before the actual date of journey about his travel plan itinerary and his contact addresses during the said travel.”

However, Jindal’s plea was opposed by the CBI saying it may cause delay in trial.

The court directed him to be present on each date fixed for hearing.

The court was hearing a case related to the allocation of Jharkhand’s Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge.

Jindal, former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, former union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and others have been named as accused in the case.

They have been charge-sheeted for criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Prevention of Corruption Act.