Gujarat minister,kin get three years in jail for illegal mining

Bokhiria’s daughter is married to Bharat’s son while Bhima and Laxman are father-son duo. Bhima also happens to be a cousin of Bokhira’s wife.

The case was lodged in 2006 at Bagodar police station by one Umesh Bhavsar,an assistant general manager of Saurashtra Chemicals Limited,the company which had mining rights at Jinjarkha village near Porbandar town. The complaint said the four illegally mined limestone worth Rs 54 crore from the land owned by the company.

The four have been convicted for various offences under Indian Penal Code sections,including theft (379) and criminal trespassing (447).

While pronouncing the judgment,the court of additional chief judicial magistrate observed,“…considering the seriousness of the case as well as status of the accused,maximum punishment should be imposed.”

The convicts have been granted a week’s time to appeal against the order failing which they will be sent to prison.

According to Vijay Kanara,an advocate who represents two RTI activists who are co-complainants in the case,police had earlier declared Bokhiria as absconding in the chargesheet,but the minister was seen at public functions on several occasions.

Following a complaint by the two activists before the court,police arrested Bharat while

Bokhiria filed anticipatory bail plea in the Supreme Court,which rejected it. In 2007,just before the Assembly polls,Bokhiria returned from the UK and surrendered before the court,which sent him to judicial custody.

When contacted,Bokhiria said today he would appeal against the judgment in higher courts.

Asked if he would resign as a minister,he said,“I leave the matter of my resignation to the party. The party’s decision will be acceptable to me.”

State BJP president Ranchhoddas Faldu said the party would first study the judgment and then take a decision.