A special court here on Friday framed charges against former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt. Ltd. in a coal block allocation case.
Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed charges dealing with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act against accused Gupta and company PSMPL.
After the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, the court listed the matter for admission and denial of documents for March 30.
Observing that no incriminating evidence on record is against company director Atul Jain, the court on February 18 had discharged him from the case.
The case pertains to allocation of Madhya Pradesh's Brahmapuri coal block to Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt. Ltd (PSMPL).
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a fresh charge sheet in the case on May 20 last year, claiming the company allegedly misrepresented facts while applying for coal blocks.
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The CBI has alleged that Gupta conspired with the company and its director, and allocated Brahmapuri coal block in favour of PSMPL, violating all guidelines laid down in this regard.
The allocation was also against the recommendations of the state of Madhya Pradesh and the ministry of steel.