Coal Scam: Delhi Court Convicts Former MP Vijay Darda, Ex-Coal Secretary H C Gupta

A Delhi court on Thursday (13 July) convicted former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, ex-coal secretary H C Gupta, and five others in a case involving irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh.

Rouse Avenue Court Special Judge Sanjay Bansal announced the verdict, marking the 13th conviction in the coal scam.

The list of those convicted includes Devender Darda, IAS officers K S Kropha and K C Samria, as well as Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, Director of M/s JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd.

The accused were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Earlier in November 2014, the court had rejected the CBI's closure report and instructed the agency to further investigate the matter.

According to the court, the former MP had provided false information in letters to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was in charge of the Coal portfolio at the time.

This was done in order to secure the allocation of the Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh for JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd.

Gupta, who served as coal secretary from December 2005 to November 2008, is also facing accusations in 12 cases of irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks during the UPA government.