July 9, 2010

Jabalpur, MP. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to a BJP legislator from Jabalpur and others on a petition in connection with illegal sand mining in Mandla district and its storage in Jabalpur.

Hearing a petition filed by Mr Devang Yadav yesterday, a division bench of Justices Ajeet Singh and J K Maheshwari issued notices to BJP legislator Harendrajeet Singh Babbu, his son-in-law Kuldeep Singh Chhabra, the Jabalpur Collector, the Mandla Collector, the Mining Officer (Jabalpur), the Mining Officer (Mandla) and the Commercial Tax Officer and sought reply within four weeks.

Petitioner's counsel Vipin Yadav told the court that his client contractor Devang Yadav had got a contract of Rs 3.71 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 4.08 crore in 2010-11 in Jabalpur but the legislator's son-in-law was mining sand in Mandla without being given contract and was storing it in Barela and Manegaon in Jabalpur without paying Value Added Tax and royalty.

The petitioner had complained in this regard to the district administration but no action was taken.