CBI seeks seven years’ jail term for ex-coal secy

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has urged a special court here to award the maximum punishment of seven years to former coal secretary HC Gupta for cheating and criminal conspiracy in allocation of a coal block to a private firm.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar, who has held Gupta guilty in the case, will pronounce his judgment on the quantum of sentence on July 22.

Gupta, who was the coal secretary from December 31, 2005 to November 2008, then joint secretary KS Kropha and then director KC Samaria in the coal ministry were held guilty by the court for irregularities in allocation of the Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL).

Senior public prosecutor VK Sharma told the court that the convicts had committed an economic offence and urged it not to grant any leniency to them.

He submitted that economic offences were graver than the other crimes and should be dealt with firmly. The convicts, however, sought leniency, citing old age and no previous conviction in any other case.

On May 19, the court had convicted Gupta, Kropha and Samaria. It also held the firm and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia guilty of the offences, including cheating.

The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case.