Coal Scam: Former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, six others put on trial

New Delhi: Paving the way for trial, a court here on Thursday framed charges against former Congress MP Vijay Darda, and six others accused in a coal block allocation case. [caption id=“attachment_2921498” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Former Congress MP Vijay Darda. Image from Darda’s Facebook page[/caption] Prosecutors have alleged that Darda committed irregularities in allocating Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh to JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd. Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed charges against Darda, his son Devendra Darda, former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, former Coal Ministry officials KS Kropha and KC Samria, the company JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd and its Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal. After all the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, the court fixed December 16 for admission and denial of document and set 20 February for statement recording of the prosecution witnesses in the case. The court framed charges dealing with criminal conspiracy, cheating under the Indian Penal Code and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had alleged that JLD Yavatmal had wrongfully concealed previous allocation of four coal blocks to its group companies in 1999-2005.