IAS Officers Association expresses shock over Kropha's conviction

From A Correspondent

SHILLONG, May 22: The Meghalaya IAS Officers Association has expressed its shock, disbelief and anguish over the judgement passed by CBI Court convicting Meghalaya, Chief Secretary, Kuljit Singh Kropha, among others in the coal scam.

In an emergent meeting held on Monday, the association unimously expressed their support to Kropha and his family during this difficult phase.

“The officer who has served 35 years of selfless service in various capacities is known for his unimpeachable integrity and has had an unblemished service record, the Meghalaya IAS Officers Association said.  

Meanwhile, the officers of the association expressed their firm support to Kropha and also decided that the matter will also be taken up with the Central IAS Officers Association, New Delhi.

“The fraternity of officers fervently hopes that justice shall prevail and K S Kropha would be honourably exonerated from all charges,” the association said.

On Monday, Former coal secretary H C Gupta was awarded two-year-imprisonment by a special court in a coal scam case.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parasher also sentenced two senior government officials, K S Kropha and K C Samaria, for two-year imprisonment in the case. Besides the jail term, the court also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh each on the three convicts.

The trio was granted bail soon after the sentence was announced to eble them move the High Court.

Earlier on Sunday, Kropha, said that he would file an appeal in a higher court. On May 19, a special CBI court convicted the three - coal secretary HC Gupta and coal ministry officials KC Samria and Kropha in the allocation of Thesgora B-Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL).