To detect criminality in white-collar crimes is tough: Court

NEW DELHI: Detection of criminality is a tough task in white-collar crimes committed by well-trained minds who hold high status in the society, a court here has observed while dealing with the involvement of bureaucrats in a coal scam case.

The special court, which convicted and awarded two-year jail sentence to former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and two senior government officials K S Kropha and K C Samaria, said white-collar crimes were more dangerous to the society than ordinary crimes for the damage they inflicted on the public morale.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar also noted that "of late, anti-social activities of persons of the upper socio-economic strata of the society in their occupation, known as 'white collar crimes', in which financial losses caused are much higher, have attracted attention."

Deliberating on white-collar criminals, the judge said they are persons of the upper socio-economic class who violate the criminal law in the course of their occupational or professional activities.

"It is also true that to find criminality in such acts committed by white-collar criminals is often a difficult task primarily because they are committed after much deliberation and planning undertaken by well-trained minds having a higher status in the society."

Besides the three bureaucrats, the court had also imposed a fine of Rs one crore on convicted private firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd, while its Managing Director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia was awarded a three-year jail term by the court.

The case related to the irregularities in the allocation of the Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to the firm.