Officers shocked at conviction

SHILLONG: The officers who knew Chief Secretary K.S Kropha for long expressed disbelief at the conviction order against him over the coal scam and hoped that the officer will file an appeal.
An official who was associated with him for the last 30 years said Kropha, who was the joint secretary in the Coal Ministry, had a clean image throughout his career and found the verdict of the special court shocking.
An official source said while the CBI did not find any case in the coal issue, the court had gone ahead with the trial and conviction.
Another official said all along,  Kropha had a good track record and his stint in Meghalaya was also free from any blemish.
A senior official added that there is scope for appeal in the Delhi High Court and at a later stage, in the Supreme Court.
The official also cited the case of then coal secretary H.C Gupta who was also convicted along with Kropha that the former did not have money to fight his case.
“Gupta did not even own a house and even though his colleagues were ready to donate money to fight the case, he preferred to go to jail instead,” the official added.
According to the official, Kropha can still continue as the chief secretary as there is still scope for appeal.