Court frames charges against Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others

Paving the way for trial in a coal allocation case, a court on Friday framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others

Indo Asian News Service|Aug 19, 2016, 17:40:13 IST

New Delhi: Paving the way for trial in a coal allocation case, a court on Friday framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others.[caption id="attachment_2960962" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. AFP[/caption]After the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial, the court fixed 9 September for further hearing in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to a private firm Vikash Metal and Power Limited (VMPL).Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed charges against Gupta, former Coal Ministry Joint Secretary KS Kropha, another ministry official KC Samria, VMPL Managing Director Vikash Patni and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick.A first information report (FIR) was registered against VMPL and its officials, accusing them of making false claims related to land allocation to get undue advantage in the coal block allocation in September 2012.The CBI had filed a closure report, saying the charges against VMPL or its directors or even against the public servants could not be substantiated during the probe.However, the court on 15 October, 2014, refused to accept the closure report and ordered the CBI to further investigate the case.

China has dominated Myanmar’s rare earth mines — now India eyes deal to harness country’s critical minerals

India is deepening rare earth cooperation with Myanmar as New Delhi seeks alternative sources of critical minerals dominated by China, including dysprosium and terbium used in EVs, defence systems and clean energy technologies

6 min read

CJP protest in Delhi: New videos of stone pelting, violence emerge as police, agitators trade charges

Fresh videos of violence that broke out during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest in Delhi have surfaced, with the police releasing footage showing alleged stone pelting, vandalism and attacks on security personnel

3 min read

'From make in India to launch from India': Skyroot COO on why Vikram-1 could change India’s space sector

Skyroot Aerospace’s successful Vikram-1 mission marks a major milestone for India’s private space sector, as the country seeks to shift from “Make in India” to “Launch from India” and compete in the global commercial satellite launch market

8 min read

Choke terror funding, keep international shipping lanes safe: Jaishankar at Asean Regional Forum

Jaishankar's remarks came against the backdrop of recent terror attacks targeting India and growing threats to commercial shipping amid conflicts in West Asia and Europe

2 min read

PM Modi announces fast-track courts for paper leak cases; CJP responds ‘Dharmendra Pradhan must go’

Amid protests demanding accountability for the leak of medical entrance test Neet and other irregularities in the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.