LI Network
Published on: 27 July 2023 at 12:37 IST
Delhi court handed down sentences to the accused in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh. Former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Vijay Darda, his son Devender Darda, and director of JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd Manoj Kumar Jayaswal were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, Coal Secretary HC Gupta and IAS officers KS Kropha and KC Samria were directed to undergo three years of imprisonment.
Special CBI Judge Sanjay Bansal of the Rouse Avenue Courts pronounced the order and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh each on the Dardas and Jayaswal, while Gupta, Kropha, and Samria were fined ₹10,000 each.
The case pertains to the allocation of coal blocks advertised in 2006. It was alleged that JLD Yavatmal Energy Pvt Ltd had concealed facts in its application to gain wrongful allocation of the coal block.
The allocation was allegedly facilitated through collaboration between the company’s officials and the Ministry of Coal (MoC) officials, including Gupta, Kropha, and Samria.
The court held all the accused guilty of offences under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(1)(d)(iii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This marks the thirteenth conviction in the coal scam case. The judge, in an extensive order spanning over 400 pages, concluded that the accused company made misrepresentations and dishonestly induced the Government of India.
Moreover, the court held the public servants liable for their actions, emphasizing that the guidelines issued by the MoC were binding upon them, even if not legally termed as law under Article 13 of the Constitution.
The case had seen a closure report filed by the CBI in 2014, but it was rejected by the predecessor judge, who found evidence of criminal conspiracy and cheating committed by private parties in collusion with MoC officials.
