Coal scam: Order on quantum of punishment to H C Gupta, 5 others on Dec 5
New Delhi, Dec 3 : A Delhi court on Monday said it would pronounce on December 5 its order on the sentencing of former coal secretary H C Gupta and five others convicted for irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks to a private firm in West Bengal.
Special Judge Bharat Parashar concluded hearing on arguments on the quantum of punishment. The CBI sought a maximum of seven years imprisonment for the five convicted persons and imposition of heavy fine on the private firm.
The counsel for Gupta and four other convicted persons sought a lenient sentence.
Gupta's counsel pleaded that he was 70 years old and suffering from various ailments. He only had his pension to support his family, the lawyer said.
On November 30, the court convicted Gupta, private firm Vikash Metals and Power Limited as well as one serving and one retired public servant former joint secretary in Ministry of Coal K S Kropha and then director (CA-I) in the ministry KC Samria.
The court also convicted the firm's managing director Vikash Patni and its authorised signatory Anand Mallick.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL. In September 2012, the CBI registered an FIR in the case.
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38-year-old man murdered inside hotel in Mundgod; hunt on for accused
Karwar: A 38-year-old man was killed by a group of assailants inside a hotel in Mundgod on Friday night, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Zameer Ahmed Dargawale, a resident of Noorani Galli.
According to police sources, Zameer had gone to the hotel along with a friend at around 11 pm. During this time, three to four unidentified men allegedly entered the premises, threw a substance into his eyes and attacked him with a knife.
Police said the attackers allegedly stabbed him in the neck. Though he reportedly tried to run for safety, he collapsed in the hotel kitchen and died on the spot.
Investigators said Zameer had allegedly been kidnapped around one-and-a-half years ago and was later rescued in a police operation. He was also reportedly named in five cases, including betting-related offences.
Sirsi DSP Geeta Patil Geeta Patil and Uttara Kannada SP Deepan M N visited the scene and inspected the spot.
The body has been shifted to Karwar for post-mortem examination. Police said three teams have been formed to trace the accused.
