New Delhi, July 6 (IANS): A special court here on Monday issued summons to former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and others in a coal block allocation case involving Chhattisgarh-based company Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt. Ltd.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar also issued summons to the company's director Atul Jain after taking cognizance of the charge sheet, asking him to appear before it on August 3.

The case pertains to allocation of Madhya Pradesh's Brahmapuri coal block to Pushp Steel and Mining.

"Gupta in his capacity as secretary (Coal) was heading the screening committee," the court said.

"Thus prima facie by virtue of various acts of omission and commission as discussed above he (Gupta) facilitated allocation of "Brahmapuri coal block" in favour of M/s PSMPL to the detriment of all other applicant companies."

It added that not only loss was caused to the other applicant companies but also to the government of India.

A case was registered against the company and its officials in April 2013 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with criminal conspiracy and cheating.

The CBI filed a fresh charge sheet in the case on May 20. The probe agency said the company allegedly misrepresented facts while applying for coal blocks.

The CBI has alleged that Gupta conspired with the company and its director and allocated "Brahmapuri coal block" in favour of PSMPL violating all guidelines laid down in this regard and against the recommendation of state of Madhya Pradesh and ministry of steel.