New Delhi: The arguments on framing of charges in a coal scam case in which ex-Coal Secretary H C Gupta and others are accused, was on Tuesday deferred to September 28 by a special court. The court, which was scheduled to hear the argument on Tuesday, posted it for September 28 as the advocate representing Atul Jain, director of accused firm Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt Ltd (PSMPL), was unwell.
"Counsel R K Handoo (representing Jain) states that he is down with fever and will not be in a position to argue.Counsel B S Mathur (representing Gupta) submits that he would like to argue after arguments of R K Handoo are concluded. Accordingly put up on September 28 and 29 for arguments on charge," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar noted in his order.
The agency had on Tuesday alleged in court that Gupta had played an "active role" in the conspiracy to allocate the Brahmapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to PSMPL and violated the guidelines of Ministry of Coal.
CBI had claimed that Gupta had made "wrong representation" to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the recommendation in favour of PSMPL was given even after objections were raised by then Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao. Jain's counsel had countered CBI's charges saying the cord of alleged meeting of minds between the accused was not supported by the facts given by the agency.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Brahmapuri coal block to PSMPL. The court had earlier granted bail to Gupta and Jain. CBI had filed its charge sheet in the case on May 20 for alleged offences under section 120-B(criminal conspiracy) read with section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the IPC and the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the agency, PSMPL was allotted coal block on the recommendation of the Screening Committee for its proposed Sponge Iron End Use Project in Durg district. An FIR was lodged against the firm and others in April 2013 and CBI had alleged that PSMPL had misrepresented facts while applying for the coal block.
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