Former Coal Secretary Gupta, 2 others get jail term in coal block allocation case

A Delhi court on Wednesday sentenced former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and two other former government officials to three years in jail in a coal block allocation case.

CBI Special Judge Bharat Parashar also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on Gupta and former officials K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samria.

He also sentenced Vikash Metal and Power Ltd (VMPL) Managing Director Vikash Patni and authorised signatory Anand Mallick to four years in jail.

Last week the court convicted all five of conspiring to get the Moira-Madhujore coal block of West Bengal in favour of VMPL.

It was the sixth judgment by the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court that is exclusively dealing with the coal block allocation cases.

Over 20 other cases probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate were still pending.

(With inputs from agencies.)