Coal scam: Court frames charges against ex-coal secy H C Gupta, five others

A special court on Friday framed various charges including cheating and criminal conspiracy against former coal secretary H C Gupta, two public servants, private firm Vikash Metals and Power Ltd and its two officials in a coal blocks allocation scam case. The court put on trial all the accused in the case in which the CBI's closure report was earlier rejected by the court, asking the probe

agency to further investigate the matter. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL. In September 2012, the CBI had registered an FIR in the case. Besides Gupta and the firm, the court ordered to put on trial public servants, ex-joint secretary in Ministry of Coal (MoC) K S Kropha, the then Director (CA-I) in MoC, K C Samria, firm's Managing Director Vikash Patni and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick.

The accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after which the court fixed the matter for further hearing on September 9.

In a related development, Gupta told a special court he will not have a counsel only in one case. He had earlier said he was ready to "face trial from inside the jail" and withdraw his lawyers owing to financial difficulties.

Gupta, currently out on bail, said this after the special CBI judge asked him if he intended to move a plea to withdraw lawyers and personal bond and "face trial from inside the jail".

Responding to the court's query, Gupta said that his plea in this regard was confined only to the case involving Madhya Pradesh-based Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and others and he was firm on his stand to not engage an advocate in this case due to financial difficulties. "I will continue with my counsel in this (VMPL's) case at this stage," Gupta said.

In a surprising move, Gupta had on August 16 told the court that he intended to "face trial from inside the jail" and withdraw his personal bond to secure bail due to financial difficulties even as he had expressed anguish before the court saying the government should recognise its honest officers and protect them instead of prosecuting them.

He also continued his refusal to accept the court's offer to avail an advocate from New Delhi Legal Aid Services Authority or an amicus curiae appointed by the court.

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COAL SCAM

H C GUPTA

VMPL

K S KROPHA

K C SAMRIA

VIKASH PATNI

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