Terming the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Lokayukta as faulty, a special court in Bengaluru has acquitted Rohan Khaunte, Goa Minister, Anand Singh, former Minister of Karnataka, and 10 others in a 2015 case of alleged illegal transportation of iron ores by the companies in which they were directors.
“The chargesheet itself has lot of lacunae which could not be cured by the prosecution during the course of trial. Under these circumstances, the prosecution has utterly failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt,” said Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, judge of the special court of sessions for criminal cases against former and present MPs and MLAs, in his judgment delivered on March 7.
The court said that it is quite interesting to note that the persons who had transported have been left out and only some the persons who had allegedly involved have been arraigned as accused persons. The court also noted that the prosecution had admitted that the minerals which were extracted were all legal as S.B. Minerals had mining lease for 20 years.
“…the final investigating officer N.H. Ramachandraiah had dumped the documents before the court without looking into the veracity of the same. It is unfortunate to note that the investigation was entrusted to SIT of Karnataka Lokayukta with a fond hope that the same will be carried out in accordance with law. Though the FIR was registered against the other persons, who had transported the iron ore, the final investigating officer for the reasons best known to him had arraigned them as witnesses and filed the chargesheet…” the court observed.
The allegation is that the companies had indulged in illegal transportation of iron ore during the period 2009-10 causing a total loss of around ₹3 crore to the State exchequer, and the case was registered in 2015.
Mr. Khaunte and his elder brother Rajesh Khaunte were named as an accused in their capacity as directors of M/s Naivedya Logistics, Panaji, Goa, and Mr. Singh was named as he was a director of M/s S.B. Minerals, Ballari.
The court pointed out that permits issued by the Department of Mines and Geology, and the passes issued by the Forest Department were produced and these documents indicates about obtaining necessary permission by S.B. Minerals and another company M/s. Adarsh Enterprises.
Unless it is pointed out that the permits, which are placed before the court does not pertain to the alleged transaction, invoking penal provisions under the law cannot be justified, the court said
Published – March 11, 2025 10:43 pm IST
