Odisha coal scam case: Delhi court acquits six including ex-Coal Secretary

The case pertains to alleged scam in allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha in 2012, investigated by CBI

A Delhi court on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) acquitted six persons, including former Coal Secretary and two other public servants, in a case of an alleged scam in allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha in 2012, being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Special judge Sanjay Bansal of Rouse Avenue Court ruled that the Central agency failed to prove the charges framed against the accused, including former Secretary of the Union Ministry of Coal H.C. Gupta and two senior officials, K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samria. They were absolved of charges under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The court also acquitted the company Navabharat Power Private Limited (NPPL) and its Managing Director Y. Harish Chandra Prasad and Chairman P. Trivikrama Prasad. The two were booked for offences under the PC Act and the IPC.

“...When the application has been found to be complete, when the applicant company NPPL has been found to be eligible company and when no misrepresentations were made by the company, no question arises for existence of any conspiracy. It is held that prosecution has failed to prove any conspiracy,” the court noted in its acquittal order.

As per the CBI’s allegations, the NPPL had obtained coal blocks at Rampia, Dipside of Rampia and Mandakini in Odisha by making fraudulent misrepresentations about its net worth and land, which are important criterion to qualify for the coal block allocation. It was alleged that the officials of the Coal Ministry did not scrutinise the company’s application and hence facilitated it in getting undue advantage in allocation of the coal blocks.

Published - December 12, 2024 08:41 pm IST