WB Coal scam: Ex-coal secretary, 4 others convicted

New Delhi [India], Nov 30 (ANI): A Delhi court on Friday convicted former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others for allegedly indulging in corruption and hatching a criminal conspiracy for allocation of a coal block in West Bengal.
Apart from Gupta, tmanaging director Vikash Patni and authorised signatory Anand Mallick of a private firm Vikas Metals and Power Ltd (Firm) have also been convicted in the case. The other two convicted individuals include Coal Ministry's ex-joint secretary KS Kropha, and then director KC Samria.
After the pronouncement of the verdict, all five individuals were immediately taken into custody. The quantum of punishment will be announced on December 3.
The court has held them guilty in various acts constituting the offence of criminal misconduct as defined under Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. The court has also found them guilty of the offences under Section 120-B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with Section 420 of IPC and Section 13 (1) (d) (ii)/13 (1) (d) (iii) of PC Act, 1988.
The case pertains to irregularities in allocation of Moira, Madhujore coal blocks in West Bengal. Coal blocks were found to be wrongly allocated to Vikas Metal and Power Limited.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed an FIR in the matter in 2012. (ANI)