SC sets aside K'taka HC order quashing CBI case over illegal iron ore export

THE HC QUASHED THE PROCEEDINGS AND SAID THE REGISTRATION OF THE CASE AND FILING OF THE CHARGE SHEET WERE CONTRARY TO THE LAW

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In a relief to the CBI, the Supreme Court on Monday set aside a judgment of the Karnataka High Court quashing a 2013 criminal case against a company and others in an alleged case of illegal iron ore export.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court to decide the case afresh on some counts except the amount of the alleged iron ore exported by M/S MSPL Limited and others.

"We have set aside the (HC) judgment. The parties are directed to appear before the high court on February 3, 2025," the bench said, "we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case." The bench was hearing about 11 appeals of the CBI against the December 12 judgment of Justice M Nagaprasanna of the high court.

The HC judge quashed the proceedings initiated by the CBI in the case related to the illegal export of iron ore and said the registration of the case and the filing of the charge sheet by the CBI against M/S MSPL Limited and others were contrary to law.

The high court said the apex court had empowered the CBI to investigate cases of export of over 50,000 metric tonne of iron ore without valid permits.

It noted the total quantity alleged in the charge sheet against the company was 39,480 metric tonne, below the threshold set by the apex court.