Court Clears Former Coal Secretary and Others in High-Profile Coal Block Case

The Rouse Avenue court has discharged former coal secretary HC Gupta, R K M Powergen Private Ltd., and others in a coal block allocation case. The court found the allocation to be in public interest, negating allegations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In a significant development, the Rouse Avenue court on Monday cleared former Coal Secretary HC Gupta, R K M Powergen Private Ltd., and other accused in the controversial coal block allocation case. The court ruled that the allocation was made solely in the public interest.

Special CBI Judge Dheeraj Mor discharged five accused, including Gupta and former Joint Secretary K S Kropha. The decision emphasized the lack of evidence to suggest any wrongdoing, declaring all accused free of charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case centered on the Fatehpur East Coal Block allocation by the Ministry of Coal's 35th Screening Committee. It was alleged that the company fraudulently claimed an inflated net worth, but the court found these claims unfounded. Advocate Rahul Tyagi successfully defended Gupta against corruption allegations.