Gujarat minister acquitted in Rs 54-cr illegal mining case

A sessions court in Porbander district today set aside three-year conviction of Babu Bokhiriya and others

Gujarat minister for agriculture and water resources Babu Bokhiriya, convicted in a Rs 54 crore illegal mining case, got a major relief on Monday. A sessions court in Porbander district today set aside three-year conviction of Bokhiriya and others who were found guilty of illegal mining limestone by a local court last year.

Hearing the appeal of Bokhiriya and others, additional sessions judge M V Zala, set aside the conviction order passed by the lower court. He also ordered acquittal of Bokhiriya and three others — Bharat Odedara, Laxman Bhima and Bhima Dula of all charges in the illegal mining case, said government pleader Porbander S B Jethwa.

The court did not find any evidence against Bokhiriya and the other accused based on which prosecution could be initiated, said Virat Popat who represented the four accused in the case.

Last year on June 15, Bokhiria, and three others were convicted for three years by Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Porbandar district. Bokhiriya immediately challenged the conviction in session which stayed the conviction and decided to hear the minister’s appeal first.

The complaint in the case was filed in 2006 by one Umesh Bhavsar, manager of Saurashtra Chemical Company, against Bokhiria and others, alleging that they had illegally mined limestone from the land where the company held mining rights. However, it was only in June 2013 that the court found the complaint to be genuine and convicted the cabinet minister in Gujarat government along with three others.