Coal scam case: CBI raids Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak’s premise in Asansol

ED is already probing the alleged money laundering aspect of the multi-crore coal pilferage scam, while the CBI is also investigating the criminal angle of it

PGurus Newsdesk

September 7, 2022

ED is already probing the alleged money laundering aspect of the multi-crore coal pilferage scam, while the CBI is also investigating the criminal angle of it

CBI steps up probe into coal scam; raids WB Law Minister Moloy Ghatak’s Asansol & Kolkata residences

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday is conducting searches at the premises of West Bengal Minister Moloy Ghatak in the coal pilferage case, officials have said.

The agency, aided by a huge contingent of central paramilitary personnel, conducted searches in these properties in connection with the scam.

The central probe agency’s officers conducted raids at three houses of Mr. Ghatak in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district and one in the Lake Gardens area of Kolkata. Besides Asansol, the raids were underway at five locations in Kolkata.

According to the CBI, allegations against the convicts M/s Grace Industries Ltd and Mukesh Gupta during the period between the year 2005 to 2011 in New Delhi, Maharashtra, and other places, in furtherance of the common object of the criminal conspiracy hatched with other co-accused persons i.e. H C Gupta, K S Kropha and cheated by Ministry of Coal, Government of India by dishonestly and fraudulently inducing the Ministry of Coal to allocate “Lohara East Coal Block” situated in the state of Maharashtra in favour of M/s GIL on the basis of false information about net worth, capacity, equipment and status of procurement and installation of the plant.

CBI also stated that the said, company in its application claimed its net worth as Rs.120 crores whereas its own networth was Rs.3.3 crores only the company falsified its existing capacity as 1,20,000 Third Party Administrator (TPA) against 30,000 TPA.

In an order dated August 25, 2014, the Supreme Court of India cancelled the entire allocation of coal blocks.

On September 20, 2012, the CBI registered a case in the matter under section – 120B r/w 420 IPC r/w 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Upon completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed by the CBI against Grace Industries Limited and Mukesh Gupta, director of the company in court on October 28, 2014.

The Court on August 10, 2015, took cognizance of the offences punishable under section – 120B r/w 409/420 IPC r/w 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c) and (d) of the PC Act, 1988 and substantive offences. Accordingly, the summons was issued to the accused persons for their appearance before the Court.

During the course of the trial, a total of 34 witnesses were examined by the prosecution/ CBI to prove its case.

“As his name surfaced in the coal smuggling scam, we need to find out what was his role in it. We have evidence of Ghatak’s involvement in the scam,” a CBI officer told news agency PTI.

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