Supreme Court Halts CBI Probe In Bhilwara Mining Case

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India granted temporary relief to former Rajasthan Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat, Suresh Jat, and Arvind Srivastava, the brother of ADG Anand Srivastava, in the Bhilwara mining case.

The Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court’s directive to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The case involves allegations of financial misconduct, forgery, and irregularities in mining operations between 2018 and 2021.

Legal Arguments & Court’s Ruling

The Rajasthan High Court had initially directed a CBI probe into the case, citing concerns about the impartiality of the state police and alleging that the local investigation was not fair.

Parmeshwar Ramlal Joshi, the complainant, argued that the state police could not be trusted due to the involvement of high-ranking officials and accused them of bias.

However, the Supreme Court disagreed with the High Court’s decision, siding with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Rajasthan government.

Mehta argued that the state police was fully capable of conducting the investigation and that the CBI probe should only be ordered in exceptional circumstances.

He emphasized that transferring the case should not happen arbitrarily, as it undermines the local police’s authority and jurisdiction.

Mehta also pointed to Supreme Court precedents that outline the specific conditions under which the Court warrants a CBI inquiry.

Upon reviewing the arguments, the Supreme Court noted that the Rajasthan High Court had failed to provide solid evidence to justify the need for a CBI probe.

The Court emphasized that mere concerns of bias or the involvement of senior officials were not enough to transfer the case to the CBI.

Additionally, the state police had made substantial progress in the investigation, and there was no indication that it was unable to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry.

The ruling reinforced the principle that the state police should handle investigations within their jurisdiction unless compelling evidence suggests otherwise.

By staying the High Court’s order, the Supreme Court affirmed the state police’s autonomy and competence in conducting the investigation without interference.

Impact Of The Supreme Court’s Stay

The Supreme Court’s order has come as a setback for the complainant, Parmeshwar Ramlal Joshi, who had sought a CBI investigation, claiming bias in the state police’s handling of the case.

Senior counsel for the complainant, Siddharth Luthra, argued that the state police’s investigation was partial.

However, the Supreme Court rejected this contention, instead emphasizing the need for the state police to continue with the investigation.

The Supreme Court issued notices to the complainant and other parties, asking for their responses.

Meanwhile, the investigation will proceed under the state police’s jurisdiction, with the case involving business partnerships and financial transactions in Bhilwara’s mining sector continuing.

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