Former Coal Secretary H C Gupta today told a special court that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given the final approval for allocation of coal block to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL). <br/><br/>Mr. Gupta's counsel B S Mathur told Special CBI Judge that Gupta was only Coal Secretary and heading the screening committee, which was only a recommending body, and the final approval was made by Mr. Singh who was also holding the portfolio of Coal Ministry at that time. <br/><br/>However, the CBI countered Gupta's arguments contending that Mr. Manmohan Singh was kept in the dark and alleged that it was the then Coal Secretary who had misled the senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office. <br/><br/>The court concluded the hearing on arguments on framing of charges and fixed the matter for the 16th of next month .