<h1>Private power firm, promoters and three ex-officials discharged; no evidence of wrongdoing under IPC 120B, 420 or PC Act</h1> A special court discharged a private power company, its promoters and three former government officials, including a former coal secretary and a former joint secretary, in a coal-block allocation case, finding insufficient evidence to prosecute. The CBI had filed an FIR in 2014 under IPC section 120B and 420 and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, submitted a closure report in 2017, was ordered to re-probe and later lodged a 2023 charge sheet alleging misrepresentation, forged documents and cheating. The court held the allocation followed approved policy and screening-committee recommendation, found no material showing public servants acted against public interest, and acquitted the accused.