Coal scam:Court to hear arguments in GIL's case from Jan 20

A special court fixed January 20 next year for hearing arguments on framing of charges in a coal scam case relating to alleged irregularities in allocation of Lohara (East) coal block in Maharashtra to Nagpur-based accused company Grace Industries Ltd (GIL). Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar posted the matter for arguments after the counsel representing the accused said that scrutiny of documents supplied to them along with the charge sheet filed by the agency was complete. During the hearing, CBI's senior public prosecutor Sanjay Kumar told the court that they have also supplied translated copies of documents, which were in Marathi language, to the accused.

"Investigating Officer (IO) has submitted the translated copies of certain documents which were in Marathi language. Copies have been supplied to the counsel for accused... the case is now adjourned for consideration on charge on January 20, 21 and 22, 2016," the court noted in its order.

The court had earlier granted bail to ex-Coal Secretary H C Gupta and four others, including a senior public servant, in connection with the case. Besides Gupta, bail was granted bail to public servant K S Kropha, who was a former Joint Director in the Ministry of Coal, Vishwas Sawakhande, earlier Director in Directorate of Geology and Mining in Maharashtra government and directors of GIL, Mukesh Gupta and Seema Gupta. The court had summoned GIL and the five individuals as accused in the case for alleged offences punishable under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) read with 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to CBI, the 34th Screening Committee had allotted Lohara (East) coal block jointly to M/s GIL and to M/s Murli Agro Products Pvt Ltd and the letter of allotment was issued on June 27, 2008. CBI had chargesheeted the firm and one of its directors alleging he had falsely misrepresented facts to bag the coal block.