Chhattisgarh HC dismisses case against CM Raman Singh

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh high court has dismissed a case filed by state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel against chief minister Raman Singh and former chief secretary P Joy Oommen in connection with a land allotment of Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a Vedanta Group Company.

The bench of Justice Chandra Bhushan Bajpai dismissed the criminal revision petition and upheld a lower court’s order dismissing Baghel’s complaint in 2013.

Reacting the order, state Congress chief said he would move the Supreme Court in appeal as the state government has allotted the land to BALCO at throwaway prices in Korba.

Special Judge, (Prevention of Corruption Act) & first Additional sessions judge, Raipur ND Tigala had dismissed a complaint filed by Bhupesh Baghel, president of Chhattisgarh Congress Committee against the chief minister Raman Singh and ex-chief secretary P Joy Oommen seeking their prosecution for offences under Indian Penal Code and prevention of corruption Act.

Arguing for the chief minister and the ex-chief secretary, advocate general Jugal Kishore Gilda contented that prior to filing the complaint no sanction obtained u/s 197 of the Cr PC because Dr Raman Singh is a Public Servant. Such prior sanction is also mandatory for action against P Joy Oommen, a retired chief secretary.

The complainant has been claiming that the decision of chief minister and then chief secretary to arrive at an out of court settlement has caused losses to the state exchequer. The complaint alleged that at the last moment the chief minister in collusion with the chief secretary conspired and prepared a note-sheet and thereby did not file appeal to the Supreme Court and arrived at out of course settlement to grant valuable land to BALCO, despite legal opinion to move the apex court.