Former Karnataka minister B P Anand Singh, Goa Tourism minister acquitted in illegal mining case

Bengaluru: In a relief to Goa Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte and former Karnataka minister B P Anand Singh and other accused, a special court for elected representatives has acquitted them of all charges in a case pertaining to illegal extraction, transportation and export of iron ore.

The other persons acquitted in the case are, Rohan Khaunte’s brother Rajesh Ashok Khaunte, directors of Naivedyam Logistics, Soumit Ranjan Jena, Proprietor of Pisces Exim, Mumbai, B S Gopal Singh, B S Pandurang Singh, partners with Anand Singh in SB Minerals, Hosapete, Vijay, Proprietor of Vijay Plast-O Print, Mumbai, Shaju K Nair, his wife Riya Nair, directors of Claria Marketing Services, Chennai and S Mohammed Muneer, proprietor of Shafia Minerals, Hosapete. Three other accused - B S Srinivas Singh, Anand and Rakesh Kumar Jain had died during the trial.

The chargesheet was filed by the Special Investigation Team, Karnataka Lokayukta, which was set up in terms of the orders of the apex court to investigate certain instances of illegal mining in the state. The Lokayukta team case was that certain companies had entered into an agreement to export about 14,000 MT of iron ore from Karwar port and about 6000 MT of Iron ore from Belekeri Port. The prosecution contended that Pisces Exim Mumbai had received 11397.44 MT of iron ore from different dealers without obtaining necessary permits or paying necessary royalty taxes to the Government as contemplated under law.

Special judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat noted that while the prosecution contended that about 20659.13 MT of iron ore was extracted by S B Minerals and after extraction sold 16987.69 MT to Eagle Traders, the latter were not named as accused in the instant case.

“It is quite interesting to note that the persons who had transported have been left out and only some of the persons who had allegedly been involved have been arraigned as accused persons. The prosecution case would indicate that the iron ore materials were extracted and sold by S.B. Minerals in favour of Eagle Traders who had credited the amount. However, the Eagle Traders or SMSK Mineral Trading Company or Kori Nagaraj or Adarsh Enterprises have not been arraigned as accused persons,” the court said.

The court further observed that the permits issued by the Director of Mines and Geology (DMG) and Forest Passes are placed before the court which indicate that S B Minerals and Adarsh Enterprises had obtained necessary permission. “Unless it is pointed out that the permits which are placed before the court do not pertain to the aforesaid transaction the contention of attracting the rigors under MMDR Act or under the provisions of IPC cannot be justified. Hence, the prosecution has utterly failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the court said.