Coal scam: Court seeks CBI reply on supply of docs

A special court on Monday asked the CBI to file its response on a plea to supply certain documents to the Himachal EMTA Power Ltd (HEPL), accused of allegedly misrepresenting facts to acquire a coal block in West Bengal, by April 21.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar posted the matter after the agency submitted that it needed more time to file its reply on the plea filed on April 6 by accused firm.

The court had on February 29 granted bail to two HEPL Directors – Ujjal Kumar Upadhaya and Bikash Mukherjee – and senior official NC Chakraborty.

After taking cognisance of the CBI’s charge-sheet in the case on February 5, the court had summoned four accused for alleged offences under Sections 120-B and 420 of the IPC. The CBI has chargesheeted HEPL, Upadhaya and Mukherjee in the case but the judge had said “though the CBI has not chargesheeted Chakraborty case, I don’t find myself in agreement with the said conclusion drawn by CBI”.