Court frames charges against Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others

New Delhi: Paving the way for trial in a coal allocation case, a court on Friday framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others. [caption id=“attachment_2960962” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] After the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, the court fixed 9 September for further hearing in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to a private firm Vikash Metal and Power Limited (VMPL). Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed charges against Gupta, former Coal Ministry Joint Secretary KS Kropha, another ministry official KC Samria, VMPL Managing Director Vikash Patni and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick. A first information report (FIR) was registered against VMPL and its officials, accusing them of making false claims related to land allocation to get undue advantage in the coal block allocation in September 2012. The CBI had filed a closure report, saying the charges against VMPL or its directors or even against the public servants could not be substantiated during the probe. However, the court on 15 October, 2014, refused to accept the closure report and ordered the CBI to further investigate the case.