New Delhi: A special court in Delhi on Friday (March 27, 2026) acquitted former MP Vijay Darda, his son Devendra Darda, and former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta in a case related to coal block allocation. The court clarified that there was no concrete evidence to support the allegations.
With this verdict, the decade-long high-profile legal battle came to a close. The court also acquitted Manoj Kumar Jayaswal and M/s AMR Iron and Steel Private Limited. The case was linked to the first chargesheet filed by the central investigating agency in connection with coal block allocation in Bandra, Maharashtra.
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The prosecution had alleged that AMR Iron and Steel Private Limited conspired with H.C. Gupta to submit false information in its application to secure the coal block. It further claimed that Vijay Darda, then a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, wrote letters to the Prime Minister’s Office recommending the allocation of the coal block to the company.
However, the court rejected the central agency’s allegations. It observed that all relevant information was already available with authorities during the allocation process, and no witness corroborated claims of inducement or deception.
The court further stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges of fraud and criminal conspiracy. After a detailed examination of evidence and witness testimonies, it concluded that there was no fraudulent or dishonest intent in the company’s application or feedback forms.
Regarding the alleged ₹24.6 crore transactions, the court found no substantive proof. It clarified that no link could be established between the payments and the coal block allocation or the letters written by Vijay Darda. Moreover, there was no evidence to suggest that the letters influenced the allocation decision.
Special CBI Judge Sunena Sharma remarked, “After a thorough review of evidence and witness statements, it is evident that there is no concrete proof to support the allegations.” The detailed judgment is still awaited.
This case had grabbed headlines when the central investigating agency registered over 50 cases related to coal block allocations, amid allegations of corruption and irregularities in the allocation process.
Experts said the verdict sets an example where high-profile individuals were acquitted due to lack of evidence despite prolonged legal battles and extensive investigations. It demonstrates that mere allegations cannot determine guilt.
Following the verdict, there was a wave of relief among politicians and industrialists. The court emphasized that a fair and factual approach was applied, with the decision based solely on available evidence.
The ruling also underscores the importance of judicial impartiality and procedural scrutiny in high-stakes cases. Despite prolonged investigations and court proceedings, the court gave precedence only to evidence-based conclusions, reinforcing the integrity of the legal process in India.
