The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on 9 September, carried out searches at the premises of former Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan after registering an FIR against her in connection with clearance given during her tenure for diversion of forest land for mining.
The case pertains to clearance given for diversion of forest land in Saranda Forest, Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, to mining company Electrosteel in alleged violation of Forest (Conservation) Act in 2012.
The permission was rejected by the then Minister of State for Environment, Jairam Ramesh, but, when Natarajan took the post, she allegedly cleared it.
An FIR was filed against the former Minister on 7 September alleging “criminal conspiracy and abuse of official position” during her term as Minister of State in charge of Ministry of Environment and Forest.
Here is a copy of the said FIR.
Sources said the searches were conducted at Natarajan's residence in Chennai, besides premises of some other accused in New Delhi, Kolkata and the mining company's office in Odisha's Sundergarh, reports PTI.
What’s the Case Against Natarajan?
According to PTI, the case pertains to clearance given for diversion of forest land in Saranda Forest in Singhbhum District of Jharkhand to mining company Electrosteel in alleged violation of Forest (Conservation Act) in 2012. The permission was initially denied by Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh but granted when Natarajan assumed office. She was MoS with independent charge of the ministry between 2011 and 2013.
The CBI FIR alleged that,
Jayanthi Natarajan, the then Minister of State for Environment and Forests, accorded the approval for diversion of 55.79 hectares of forest land for non-forestry use to ECL, though the same had been rejected by the earlier Minister of State... without any change in the circumstances after rejection.
It said this approval had been accorded without adhering to the advice of Director General Forests and the directions of Supreme Court in this regard.
The CBI also filed an FIR against Electrosteel Casting Ltd and others under Section 120B of the PC Act. The agency is conducting searches at premises in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ranchi, and Odisha’s Sundergarh in connection with the case.
(With inputs from PTI)
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