Madhya Pradesh High Court judge recuses from illegal mining case after BJP MLA tries to contact him

Justice Vishal Mishra (Left) and BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak

A Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Vishal Mishra recused from an illegal sand mining case after revealing that a BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak contacted him.

The BJP MLA attempted to contact the MP High Court judge regarding an alleged illegal mining issue, prompting him to recuse from hearing the case in Ashutosh Dixit v Economic Offences Wing & Ors.

In an order dated September 1, Justice Vishal Mishra disclosed that Sanjay Pathak (the MLA) had attempted to call him "to have a discussion regarding this particular matter, therefore, I am not inclined to entertain this writ petition".

"Let the matter be placed before the Hon'ble Chief Justice for listing it before the appropriate Bench for consideration," the order stated.

A writ petition was filed by one Ashutosh Dixit seeking action against those involved in illegal mining.

The petition stated that three companies associated with the BJP MLA were engaged in Jabalpur district's Sihora area in "illegal and excess mining" and also in forest land.

Dixit had approached the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal, levelling these allegations. He then moved to the High Court alleging inaction on the part of EOW.

"Though EOW recorded my statement, no action was being taken in the matter, following which I have filed a writ petition in the high court with a prayer for direction to the probe agency to make public its inquiry report and complete the investigations," Dixit told news agency PTI.

During the pendency of the petition, the government had informed the legislative assembly that it had taken action.

The petition claimed hefty fines amounting to over Rs 1,700 crore were imposed in the case.

The MLA's company, meanwhile, filed an intervention petition, which came up for hearing before the bench of Justice Mishra.

MLA Pathak, who represents the Vijayraghavgarh constituency in Katni district, initially didn't answer phone calls made by news agency PTI for a reaction.

A person later returned the call and said the legislator would speak before hanging up, said the report.

With inputs from PTI