Ahmedabad:
In a major embarrassment for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a minister in his cabinet, Babu Bokhariya, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in a Rs 54 crore illegal mining case in Saurashtra. Mr Bokhariya, who is Gujarat's water resource minister, has been taken into custody.
Three others - former MP Bharat Odedara, Bhima Dula and Laxman Dula - were also convicted in the case.
Former leader of opposition, Shaktisinh Gohil, claimed that the sentencing had exposed the Modi government. "It clearly indicates that Modi's ministers are not just corrupt but also indulge in illegal activities,'' he said. The BJP, on the other hand, claimed that the party respected the judicial process.
The illegal mining case dates back to 2006 when Mr Bokhariya was neither a minister nor an elected MLA. The complaint was lodged by Umesh Bhavsar, assistant general manager of Saurashtra Chemicals Limited, which held the mining rights in Jinjarka village near Porbandar. The official had accused Mr Bokhariya and the three others of illegal mining and quarrying limestone from the company's land.
Following the complaint, a team of experts from geology and the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation visited the site and submitted its report. The team of experts said illegal mining limestone worth Rs 54.18 crore was done. The police seized mining equipment worth about Rs 7 lakh and cases were registered against the four accused.
The mining business in Gujarat is estimated to be worth about Rs 169 crore. The industry pays taxes to the tune of Rs 27.32 crore every year.