New Delhi: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Delhi has convicted and sentenced M/s SKS Ispat & Power Ltd, its director Deepak Gupta and two authorised signatories in connection with irregularities in the allocation of the Rawanwara North Coal Block. The verdict was delivered on January 12, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Deepak Gupta, director of the company, was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10 lakh. Satya Narain Dwivedi, an authorised signatory, was awarded two years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 20,000, while another authorised signatory, Amrit Singh, was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the company.

The CBI said the case was registered on August 4, 2014, after allegations surfaced that the company and its officials had submitted false and misleading information in their application and feedback forms to secure the coal block. The agency alleged misrepresentation related to financial net worth, production capacity, land ownership and environmental clearances.

Following the investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on August 31, 2016, against M/s SKS Ispat Ltd, now known as M/s SKS Ispat & Power Ltd, through its director and authorised signatories. After completion of the trial, the court found all accused guilty and awarded sentences accordingly.

The agency noted that this conviction marks the 20th successful prosecution in coal block allocation cases investigated by the CBI, underscoring continued action against fraud and misrepresentation in the allocation of natural resources.