New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS): A court here on Wednesday framed charges against former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and five others in a coal case allegedly involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL).

Special Judge Bharat Parashar framed charges under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Gupta and others.

Beside Gupta, the court framed charges against two senior public servants - K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samria, accused firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL), its Managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia and chartered account Amit Goyal.

The case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge.

The court has fixed the matter for October 28 for admission and denial of documents.

The court had earlier rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation's closure report filed in the case.

The CBI had lodged an FIR accusing the company and others of allegedly misrepresenting facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire coal blocks.

After a probe, the agency filed a closure report, saying it did not find sufficient evidence against the firm and its director to proceed with the case.