COURT-LD COAL 2

In May, the court had dismissed Gupta’s plea seeking In May, the court had dismissed Gupta’s plea seekingjoint trial in several cases against him related to thematter, saying all the matters were at different stages. On August 8, the Supreme Court also rejected his plea forjoint trial. Eight different charge sheets have been filed against himand the proceedings are going on separately. During today’s hearing, court framed various chargesincluding cheating and criminal conspiracy against Gupta, ex-joint secretary in Ministry of Coal (MoC) K S Kropha, the thenDirector (CA-I) in MoC, K C Samaria, VMPL, its ManagingDirector Vikash Patni and its Authorised Signatory AnandMallick in the coal blocks allocation scam case. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocationof Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in WestBengal to VMPL. In September 2012, the CBI had registered anFIR in the case. The accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial afterwhich the court fixed the matter for further hearing onSeptember 9. In this case, CBI’s closure report was earlier rejectedby the court, asking the probe agency to further investigateit. While ordering framing of charges in the VMPL case, thecourt had said "prima facie" offences of criminal conspiracy,cheating and criminal breach of trust by public servants underthe IPC and various sections of the Prevention of CorruptionAct are made out against the accused.PTI UK ABAGSN