Chhattisgarh Coal Scam: Delhi Court Convicts Ex-Ministry of Steel official

A Delhi court on Friday convicted a former Ministry of Steel official linked to alleged irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Chhattisgarh.

This marks the 14th conviction in the coal scam, as Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj found Gautam Kumar Basak, former Executive Secretary of the JPC (Joint Plant Committee) under the Ministry of Steel, guilty of corruption in the allocation of the Vijay Central Coal Block.

The judge is set to consider arguments on the sentencing of Basak on August 19. Basak could face a maximum jail term of seven years.

The prosecution asserted that Prakash Industries Ltd., which had applied for the coal block in January 2007, provided false information regarding its capacity. In response, the ministry tasked Basak with verifying the accuracy of the claim.

As per the prosecution, the steel ministry official submitted a false report in 2008 that supported the company’s assertions.

While the company and its director were previously exonerated by the Delhi High Court in this case, the CBI’s appeal against the high court’s decision is presently pending before the Supreme Court.