Completion of Charge Framing in Bengal Coal Smuggling Case at Special CBI Court
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Kolkata, Dec 10 (NationPress) The charge framing process for 49 individuals implicated in the coal smuggling scandal in West Bengal concluded on Tuesday at a special court operated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Asansol, situated in West Burdwan district.
With the completion of this charge framing, the trial proceedings are set to commence shortly.
On that day, one of the principal accused, Vikas Mishra, appeared via video link at the special CBI court. Currently, he is held in judicial custody due to a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act by the local police.
The POCSO case against Vikas originated from a complaint lodged by the spouse of his elder brother, Vinay Mishra, who is also a significant accused in the coal smuggling case and a former youth leader of the Trinamool Congress.
Vinay has been evading arrest for an extended period, and officials from the central investigative agencies suspect that he is residing on Vanuatu Island after obtaining citizenship there and renouncing his Indian citizenship.
On Tuesday, Vikas was presented virtually from the Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata, where he is currently detained.
Originally, November 25 was scheduled for the charge framing in the coal smuggling case. However, this was delayed to December 10 as Vikas could not appear in court that day due to his police custody.
The 49 individuals for whom the charge framing process has been completed include senior officials from Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. Another key accused, Arup Majhi aka Lala, is presently out on bail.
In addition to the CBI's investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a simultaneous inquiry into the coal smuggling allegations.
