Latest news with #HCGupta


New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ex-secy HC Gupta acquitted in coal block allocation case
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday acquitted former coal secretary H C Gupta, ex-joint secretary K S Kropha, and former director K C Samaria in a case linked to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Mahugarhi coal block in Jharkhand. The case dates back to the coal allocation scam that shook the country a decade ago. For Gupta, this marks a second acquittal in coal block-related cases, though he has been convicted in five others. His appeals in those matters are pending before the Delhi High Court. The CBI, which has filed 19 cases against him, is also contesting his first acquittal. Twelve of those cases remain pending before trial courts. While the three former officials were cleared on Friday, Special Judge Sanjay Bansal convicted JAS Infrastructure Capital Ltd and its then director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy in relation to the same coal block. At present, 29 coal scam-related cases filed by the CBI remain pending before two special courts, while 27 have already been disposed of. Parallelly, the ED earlier this year had informed the Supreme Court that 45 complaints, equivalent to chargesheets under the PMLA, remain pending in connected proceedings.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Former secretary among 3 acquitted in coal block case
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court Friday acquitted former coal ministry officials H C Gupta (secretary), K S Kropha (joint secretary), and K C Samaria (coal allocation director) in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Jharkhand's Mahuagarhi coal block to JAS Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd, a private company. The court of special judge Sanjay Bansal has convicted the firm and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal. Arguments on their sentence will be heard on July 8. CBI alleged, JAS Infrastructure misrepresented facts in its application and fraudulently obtained allocation of the coal block. The public servants acted in a manner detrimental to public interest and allowed the company to misappropriate nationalised natural resources, they said. In Dec 2016, a Delhi court framed charges for alleged offences under sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. CBI had filed a closure report in April 2014 stating that no case was made out against the accused. But the court disagreed with CBI's conclusion holding that a case was made out for taking cognisance of the alleged offences against the accused. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Walgreens Hides This Cheap 87¢ Generic Cialis Health Alliance by Friday Plans Undo In 2018, a Delhi court sentenced Gupta, Kropha, and Samaria to three years' jail for irregularities in the allocation of two Bengal coal blocks. Then in 2017, the three were convicted for irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh. Of the 54 cases being probed by CBI, 27 have been disposed of. The other half are still pending a decade later. With this case, CBI has achieved 19 convictions. Three of its cases have ended in acquittals and two in discharge.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Coal scam case: CBI court acquits former bureaucrats Gupta, Kropha, Samaria
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday acquitted former coal secretary HC Gupta, former joint secretary (coal) KS Kropha, and former coal allocation director KC Samaria in the high-profile 2012 coal scam case. Special Judge Sanjay Bansal convicted JAS Infrastructure Capital Ltd and its then director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal for cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with the allocation of the Mahugarhi coal block in Jharkhand. Sentencing arguments are scheduled for 8 July 2025. CBI recounts progress and previous findings 'This is the 19th conviction in coal block allocation cases investigated by CBI,' a CBI spokesperson said. The agency initially filed its closure report in the matter on 20 November 2014. Previously, the court had framed charges against JAS Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, HC Gupta, KS Kropha, and KC Samaria. The CBI said that the promoters of JAS Infrastructure had made 'false and misleading claims' about the company's financial net worth, which formed the basis of the allocation. During the trial, 18 prosecution witnesses were examined. This case marks the 19th conviction out of the 54 coal block allocation cases probed by the CBI. Only half of these cases have been disposed of so far. Previous coal block cases involving the acquitted officials In 2017, Gupta, Kropha, and Samaria were convicted by another special CBI court for irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge Steel & Power Ltd (KSSPL). They were granted bail on the same day. In April this year, Judge Bansal discharged Gupta and Kropha in a separate coal block allocation case related to Mednirai, also in Jharkhand, citing lack of evidence. The coal scam, also known as the Coalgate scandal, erupted in 2012 after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that the government had allocated coal blocks to private companies without transparent auctions. The report estimated a 'notional loss' of ₹1.86 lakh crore to the exchequer. The scandal triggered widespread political uproar and was a major factor in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's defeat in the 2014 general elections, which brought the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to power.


India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi court acquits former Coal Ministry officials in Jharkhand coal block case, finds company, Director guilty
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): A special court in Delhi on Friday acquitted former Coal Ministry officials, H C Gupta (Secretary), K S Kropha (Joint Secretary), and K C Samaria (Coal Allocation Director), in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block in Jharkhand to M/s Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL). However, the court convicted the firm JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, holding them guilty under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the IPC, along with the substantive offence under Section 420. Special CBI Judge Sanjay Bansal delivered the judgment, with arguments on sentencing scheduled for July 8, 2025. According to the CBI, this marks the 19th conviction in coal scam cases. The case was registered following a Preliminary Enquiry initiated based on a reference from the Central Vigilance Commission, investigating alleged corruption within the Ministry of Coal concerning the allocation of coal blocks to private companies during 2006-09. The FIR alleged that JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, misrepresented and concealed facts in their application to obtain undue benefits in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block. The Supreme Court closely monitored investigations into coal block allocations, and after taking cognisance of the matter, the trial court summoned the accused. During the proceedings, the CBI examined 18 witnesses and successfully proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. (ANI)


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Coal scam: Delhi court acquits ex-coal Secretary HC Gupta, others
A Delhi court acquitted former Coal Ministry officials in a case concerning irregularities in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block to M/s Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL). However, JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, were convicted of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The CBI successfully proved the case, marking the 19th conviction in coal scam cases. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A special court in Delhi on Friday acquitted former Coal Ministry officials, H C Gupta (Secretary), K S Kropha (Joint Secretary), and K C Samaria (Coal Allocation Director), in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block in Jharkhand to M/s Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL).However, the court convicted the firm JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, holding them guilty under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the IPC, along with the substantive offence under Section CBI Judge Sanjay Bansal delivered the judgment, with arguments on sentencing scheduled for July 8, 2025. According to the CBI, this marks the 19th conviction in coal scam case was registered following a Preliminary Enquiry initiated based on a reference from the Central Vigilance Commission, investigating alleged corruption within the Ministry of Coal concerning the allocation of coal blocks to private companies during FIR alleged that JICPL and its director, Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, misrepresented and concealed facts in their application to obtain undue benefits in the allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal Supreme Court closely monitored investigations into coal block allocations, and after taking cognisance of the matter, the trial court summoned the accused. During the proceedings, the CBI examined 18 witnesses and successfully proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.