Ex-Coal Secy seeks to face trial from inside jail

New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) In a surprising move, former CoalSecretary H C Gupta, an accused in several coal scam cases andpresently out on bail, today told a special court that heintended to "face trial from inside the jail" and withdraw hispersonal bond to secure bail due to financial difficulties. After Gupta moved the application before Special CBIJudge Bharat Parashar, the court "extensively enquired" fromhim about the reasons for filing such a plea. Responding to the court’s query, the former bureaucratsaid he was in financial difficulties, even for engaging alawyer. "Accused H C Gupta has moved an application seeking towithdraw his personal bond submitted earlier for his releaseon bail and also to withdraw the authorisation letter infavour of his advocates… Along with the application, a noteexplaining the reasons for moving the aforesaid applicationhas also been annexed," the court noted in its order. "Gupta states that he does not wish to examine anywitness in his defence and intends to face the trial frominside the jail. Upon this, Gupta was extensively enquiredabout the reasons for moving of the said application. Guptaalso stated that he is also facing financial difficulties evenin engaging a lawyer," the judge said. After Gupta told the court about financial difficultiesin engaging lawyer, the court told him that if he was facingany such problem, he could be provided services of an advocatefrom New Delhi Legal Aid Services Authority or an amicuscuriae can be appointed on his behalf. Gupta, however, refused to avail such services, followingwhich the court gave him time to think over his plea andposted the matter for hearing tomorrow. Meanwhile, CBI said they would respond to Gupta’s plea. During the day’s proceeding, the court talked to the wifeand son of Gupta regarding the application moved by him. "After getting the court room vacated from all personspresent except the court staff, the undersigned (judge) had atalk with the wife and son of accused (Gupta) in open courtand informed them about the application moved by Gupta," thecourt noted in its order. "Thereafter, Gupta was also called inside the court roomand in the presence of court staff, the undersigned had a talkwith him and his wife and son in the open court itself. Guptahas been given time to think over the plea made by him todayin the application and has been told that a decision on theapplication shall be taken at a subsequent date," it said.(More) PTI UK ABA RKSARC