Coal scam: Court to pass order on charge on Feb 19

A special court today decided to pronounce its order on framing of charges in a coal block allocation scam case, in which former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and two others are accused, on February 19.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Brahmapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to accused firm Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt Ltd (PSMPL).
Besides Gupta, PSMPL and its Director Atul Jain are facing prosecution in the case for the alleged offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

CBI had earlier alleged before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar that Gupta had played an "active role" in the conspiracy to allocate the coal block to PSMPL and violated the guidelines of Ministry of Coal.
The agency had claimed that the screening committee, headed by Gupta, had recommended allocation of Brahmapuri coal block to PSMPL despite the fact that the state government as well as the Ministry of Steel had not recommended the firm for allocation of the block.
Gupta and other two accused had denied the allegations levelled by CBI and had argued in the court that they had not conspired with each other to extend any benefit to the firm.

Jain had alleged in the court that the agency had put up disjointed facts to create a semblance of conspiracy which did not exist.

The court had earlier granted bail to Gupta and Jain.
It had summoned Gupta, PSMPL and Jain, as accused for their alleged involvement in the allocation of Brahmapuri coal block to the firm which resulted in loss.
According to the agency, PSMPL was allotted coal block on the recommendation by screening committee for its proposed Sponge Iron End Use Project in Durg district.
The Rungtas, during arguments on quantum of sentence, had
sought a lighter punishment from the judge claiming that no genuine bidder was deprived of his rights due to their acts.

They had said that the principal offender was the company and not the individuals and added that a lenient view must be taken towards them keeping in mind their age.
However, the prosecution agency had rebutted their argument, saying that there are a number of cases pending against the convicts, including attempt to murder, and submitted a list of the cases pending against them.
The court had, however, acquitted R C Rungta for the alleged offences under IPC sections 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) saying they were not proved against him.

Similarly, the court had acquitted R S Rungta for the alleged offences under sections 468 and 471 of the IPC.
It had observed that due to strict regulations regarding availability of coal, the fact that JIPL managed to procure allotment of coal much beyond the capacity required by it to run its plant "becomes important and it does raise eyebrows."
In the case pertaining to irregularities in allocation of North Dhadu coal block by 27th and 30th screening committees jointly to JIPL and three other firms M/s Electro Steel Casting Ltd, M/s Adhunik Alloys and Power Ltd and M/s Pawanjay Steel and Power Ltd, the court had earlier summoned two others -- Ramabatar Kedia and Naresh Mahto -- as accused along with JIPL and the Rungtas.

However, the court was later informed that both Kedia and Mahto had died after which proceedings against them were abated.