Charges framed in another coal block case

A Special court here on Tuesday framed charges against Himachal EMTA Power Ltd (HEPL) and three others in a coal block allocation scam case.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed the charges against HEPL, its directors Ujjal Kumar Upadhaya and Bikash Mukherjee and senior executive N.C. Chakraborty.

court said prima facie there was evidence which suggested that the accused committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating.

Status misrepresented

CBI had chargesheeted only HEPL, Upadhaya and Mukherjee in the case but the Judge said “though CBI has not chargesheeted N.C. Chakraborty, but I do not find myself in agreement with the said conclusion drawn by CBI.”

CBI has alleged that HEPL had grossly misrepresented its status not only in its application form but also in the feedback form submitted on June 22, 2007 and in the information supplied by Chakraborty to the West Bengal government.

It further alleged that Upadhaya and Mukherjee had deliberately conspired with HEPL.

They had submitted false information to the Ministry of Coal to secure allocation of Gourangdih ABC coal block in West Bengal in its favour.

Joint venture

Messrs Eastern Minerals and Trading Agency Ltd (EMTA) had entered into a joint venture with Himachal Power Corporation Ltd to establish a power project in West Bengal, and the company was named Messrs Himachal EMTA Power Ltd (HEPL).

HEPL its its January 10, 2007 application had applied for allotment of Gourangdih ABC coal block, the investigating agency said.