A Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted SKS Ispat and Power Limited, the brother of a former union minister, and three others in a coal scam case, citing lack of evidence. The case, which dates back to 2012, involved allegations of irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Jharkhand.
Background of the Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a chargesheet against the company and individuals, including the former minister's brother, for cheating and criminal conspiracy in the allocation of the coal block. The Supreme Court in 2014 had quashed 214 coal blocks allocated by the central government between 1993 and 2010, following two public interest litigations, and ordered trial by a special CBI judge.
Court's Ruling
Special CBI Judge Sanjay Bansal acquitted all the accused, noting that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court observed that the allegations of criminal conspiracy and cheating were not substantiated by evidence. The accused were discharged from all charges, including those under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Reactions and Implications
The acquittal marks a significant development in the coal scam cases, which have seen several high-profile convictions and acquittals over the years. Legal experts said the ruling underscores the importance of evidence in corruption cases. The CBI has the option to appeal the decision in a higher court.
The case had been closely watched as it involved a former union minister's relative. The minister, who was not named in the case, had earlier denied any wrongdoing. The acquittal brings relief to the accused, who had faced prolonged legal proceedings.
