Coal case report against Prakash Industries to be heard September 22

A court here on Wednesday set September 22 for considering a closure report in a coal block allocation case allegedly involving Prakash Industries Ltd.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar posted the consideration of the closure report for September 22 after counsel appearing for Central Vigilance Commission director sought more time.

Advocate R.V. Sinha, representing CVC director Keshav Rao, appeared before court and sought some time for perusal of the records and submitted that on the next date of hearing, Rao will also appear in person.

The court on July 30 issued notice to the director of the CVC while hearing a closure report in a coal block allocation case allegedly involving Prakash Industries Ltd.

Observing that the case was registered on the basis of a reference received from the CVC, the court had issued notice to the CVC director seeking his response.

The court was hearing a case related to alleged irregularities in allocation of Chhattisgarh's Fatehpur coal block.

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a closure report requesting the court to close the case on the ground that no incriminating evidence - either against the private parties or any of the public servants involved in the coal block allocation process - could come on record which may warrant their prosecution.

According to the CBI, the Fatehpur coal block was allocated jointly to Prakash Industries and another company by the 35th Screening Committee and lodged a first information report against the company, its three officials, some officials of the coal ministry and others alleging that the firm misrepresented its net worth while applying for the coal block.

The CBI booked them under various sections dealing with criminal conspiracy read with cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.