Coal Scam: Ex-Coal Secretary HC Gupta Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail

On 30 November, the court had found Gupta and five others guilty of corruption in the case.

Former coal secretary HC Gupta has been sentenced to three years in jail.

(Photo: PTI)

Former coal secretary HC Gupta on Wednesday, 5 December was sentenced to three years in jail in the coal scam case, relating to allotment of coal blocks in West Bengal.

Two other bureaucrats, K S Kropha and K C Samria, were also awarded three-year jail term.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar sentenced other convicted persons – Vikas Patni, Managing Director of Vikash Metals and Power Ltd and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick – to a four-year jail term.

Delhi’s Patiala House court had reserved the order on Monday, 3 December, after concluding the arguments on quantum of sentence. Gupta was found guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy in the case.

The court also convicted the firm’s managing director Vikash Patni and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL. In September 2012, the CBI had registered an FIR in the case.

(With PTI and ANI inputs)