Coal scam: Court to hear arguments on charges from Dec 7

Arguments on framing of charges in a coal scam case in which Congress MP Vijay Darda and six others, including ex-Coal Secretary H C Gupta, are accused, willl begin before a special court in December.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar posted the matter for arguments after the counsel appearing for the accused informed the court that scrutiny of documents supplied to them by CBI was complete.

"The case is now adjourned for consideration on charges on December 7," the court said.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh to accused firm M/s JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd.

Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, his son Devendra Darda, Gupta, two senior government servants -- K S Kropha and K C Samria -- and businessman Manoj Kumar Jayaswal are accused in the case, along with the firm JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd.

The court had earlier granted bail to them.

It had summoned them for alleged offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

It had on November 20 last year refused to accept CBI's closure report filed in the case and directed the agency to conduct further probe into the matter, while saying that the Rajya Sabha MP had allegedly "misrepresented" facts in letters written to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was holding the Coal Ministry portfolio at that time. The accused have denied all allegations.