The Jindal Vijayanagar Steels (now JWS Steels) has filed a petition in the High Court to quash the FIR filed against them based on the Lokayukta’s illegal mining report.
The petitioner stated that the Lokayukta which submitted its report on July 27, 2011, had made baseless allegations against them. Justice Dr K Bhaktavatsala, who heard the petition, directed issue of notices to the Lokayukta and to the government and orally said that at this stage, a stay cannot be granted on the FIR.
The charges against Jindal Steels include conducting illegal mining in patta land, encroaching land and conducting illegal mining, defaulting on forest development tax and giving easy access to then chief minister to indulge in illegal mining.
The petitioner argued that Lokayukta had not issued any notice before mentioning the company’s name in the report. Dragging a company’s name in the report is not right on the part of Lokayukta. An investigation should be carried out on the company which is part of the public sector and should not be named in the report without any base.
The petitioners have also appealed to the Lokayukta to produce all the documents pertaining to the allegations made in the illegal mining report. The hearing has been adjourned.
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