Special CBI court on Friday framed charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating against former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and five others in the Coal scam.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL.
Besides Gupta and private firm Vikash Metals and Power Ltd, the Court also framed charges against Ex-joint secretary in Ministry of Coal (MoC) K S Kropha, the then Director (CA-I) in MoC, K C Samria, firm's Managing Director Vikash Patni and its Authorised Signatory Anand Mallick.
Charges are framed against all the accused for the offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and for the offences under sections 120-B, 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants), 420 (cheating) of IPC and under sections 13(1)(c) and 13(1)(d) (criminal misconduct by public servants) of the PC Act
All these accused did not plead guilty to the charge framed against them and claimed trial after which the court fixed 9 September to commence the trial
In September 2012, the CBI had registered an FIR in the case.
Earlier on 15 Oct 2014, court has rejected CBI closure report in this case and asked to further investigate the matter.