Coal collected from Meghalaya state situated in northeastern (NE) region of India contains about 6.17% total sulphur (4.7% organic) with a gross calorific value of 26,208 J/g. In the present study, the coal sample was subjected to biodesulphurization along with optimization of various process parameters using a bacteria isolated from the native coal mine site. The native bacterium was identified to be Sinomonas flava 1C and reported first time for the capability to remove about 40% of sulphur from the coal. An innovative two-step sequential leaching using S. flava 1C followed by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was used in the present study to enhance desulphurization. Sequential leaching resulted in 50-53% of sulphur removal from the coal sample. Sequential leaching reduced the sulphur content to 3.08% (organic 2.15% + pyritic 0.1% and 0.85% of sulphate sulphur) in -500+300 mu m size fraction of coal. Analytical characterization indicated that the energy value of coal was not affected adversely due to the biodesulphurization process rather its calorific value increased from 26,208 J/g to 29,481 J/g. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.