Bail for ex-sarpanch accused of facilitating illegal mining via Aravali

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has granted regular bail to a former village sarpanch in a case involving environmental violations and facilitation of illegal mining activities by carving out two unauthorised roads through the protected Aravali ranges.Justice Sumeet Goel allowed the bail petition of Mohammad Hanif alias Hanna, observing that he was in judicial custody since Oct 15, 2025, and that the trial was likely to take a considerable amount of time due to the large number of prosecution witnesses. Hanif, an accused in an FIR registered on June 1, 2025, at the Anti-Corruption Bureau police station in Gurgaon, faces serious sections under BNS, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, Environment Protection Act, Punjab Land Preservation Act, and Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was filed after a Central Empowered Committee report to the Supreme Court alleged that an illegal road was constructed in Basai Meo village without mandatory approvals. According to the committee, the road allegedly cut through forest and agricultural land and was used to facilitate illegal mining and transportation of minerals near the Haryana–Rajasthan border. The report also pointed to alleged collusion between the village sarpanch, govt officials, and the mining mafia. During the hearing, senior counsel for the petitioner argued that Hanif was falsely implicated and merely forwarded a proposal for a village passage, while the actual execution was carried out by govt departments. The defence also highlighted that similarly placed co-accused already received bail and that none of the 117 cited prosecution witnesses were examined so far. Opposing the plea, the state contended that the allegations against the petitioner were serious and directly linked to environmental damage and corruption. However, the court observed that no material was placed on record to suggest that the petitioner would abscond or tamper with evidence if released on bail. The court held that continued incarceration of the petitioner as an undertrial was not justified at this stage. Hanif was ordered to be released on bail subject to strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, refraining from influencing witnesses, and not delaying the trial. BOX Report in SC In its report submitted to the Supreme Court, the Central Empowered Committee said that the newly constructed road connected three villages bordering Rajasthan— Chhapra, Dhaulet, and Naget—with Basai village (Firozpur Jhirka, Haryana). This road cut through both forest land and cultivable agricultural land. The construction appeared to be initiated by the sarpanch in collusion with certain govt officials, allegedly driven by personal financial interests. The report also stated that given the proximity to mining areas near the Rajasthan border, this road was being misused to facilitate illegal mining activities and the transportation of illegally mined minerals, enabling the accumulation of wealth for personal gain. MSID:: 127142244 413 |