Coal block case: Court to consider Kamal Sponge report on July 2

A court here on Tuesday set July 2 for consideration of the final report in the coal block allocation case allegedly involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar posted the matter for July 2 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it has not received any communication from the government on sanction for prosecuting two public servants.

The CBI sought sanction against the coal ministry's then joint secretary K.S. Kropha and then director (coal allocation-1 section) K.C. Samaria to be tried as accused in the case under additional charges dealing with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and Madhya Pradesh-based company Kamal Sponge and its director Pavan Ahluwalia and senior official Amit Goyal are facing trial in the case.

The court had rejected the CBI's closure report filed in the case.

The CBI had lodged an FIR accusing the company and others of allegedly misrepresenting facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire coal blocks.

After a probe, the CBI filed a closure report, saying it did not find sufficient evidence against the firm and its director to proceed with the case.