Former Coal Secy HC Gupta, 4 others granted bail

Former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and four others, including a senior public servant, were on Friday granted bail by a Special Court in a coal block allocation scam case. 

   Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge Bharat Parashar granted the relief to Gupta, serving public servant KS Kropha, who was a former Joint Director in the Ministry of Coal, Vishwas Sawakhande, earlier Director in the Directorate of Geology and Mining in Maharashtra government 

and directors of accused firm Grace Industries Ltd–Mukesh Gupta and Seema Gupta.

The court enlarged them on bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with one surety of the like amount.

"Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case coupled with the submissions made, I am of the considered opinion that interest of justice will be met if the accused are granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with one surety fo the like amount," the judge said. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Lohara (East) coal block in Maharashtra to Nagpur-based Grace Industries Ltd (GIL).