Coalscam: Final arguments against ex-Coal Secy Gupta concluded

NEW DELHI: The final arguments in a coal scam case against former coal secretary H C Gupta and five others, relating to alleged irregularities in allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh to an accused firm, was concluded today before a special court.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar concluded hearing the arguments in a case filed against Gupta, two senior government officials, K S Kropha and K C Samria, firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL), its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia and chartered accountant Amit Goyal.

The court has now put up the matter for further hearing on December 22 in the case.

Kropha was the then Joint Secretary in Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then Director (Coal Allocation-I) section in ministry. This is first coal scam case involving any public servant in which the final arguments have been completed.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL.

During the hearing, the CBI alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the Ministry of Coal as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued.

CBI charged that the firm had misrepresented about its net worth and existing capacity, adding that the state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block.

The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments.

The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust imposed on him on the issue of coal block allocation.