The alleged kingpin of illegal coke plants who threatened a man who filed a PIL in the Meghalaya High Court regarding the coal racket has been revealed.
During a hearing on the PIL by the full bench of the High Court today, the petitioner Shailendra Kumar Sharma in an affidavit affirmed by him on July 5 also enclosed a copy of his complaint lodged in the Basistha Police Station, Guwahati on June 30, 2023.
In the complaint, Kumar stated that one Balwant Bhama, an alleged kingpin in the illegal operations of coke plants in Meghalaya, had called him twice on the morning of June 30, 2023 and thereafter physically called at his residence shortly after 10:30 am to threaten him with dire consequences if he pursued with the PIL.
Further, in the affidavit, particularly at paragraph 3, Sharma furnished the names and phone numbers of all persons who he described as the “kingpins involved in illegal coke plants and illegal coal mining in the State of Meghalaya”.
Meanwhile, Advocate-General Amit Kumar who was present at the hearing referred to a recent report of July 3, 2023 filed by the Director-General of Police of Meghalaya.
Paragraph 6 of the report stated, “That in the course of investigation, one of the identified accused persons, namely Shri. Youdishthra Bhama, who the owner of M/s Kalyani Fuel Limited, Shallang was arrested on 15th June, 2023 for not cooperating with the investigation while recording of statement U/S 161 CrPC during his appearance in response to Notice issued U/S 41 A CrPC. He is presently lodged in judicial custody.”
The Advocate-General told the High Court that Youdishthra Bhama is the son of Balwant Bhama against whom the petitioner has lodged the complaint.
“It is, thus, evident that the petitioner has not plucked the names out of thin air and there may be some basis to the petitioner identifying the kingpins or some of them who are involved in the illegal coal-mining and the use of such illegally-mined coal in the coke plants in the State. This requires to be thoroughly looked into,” the High Court said.
In the meantime, in view of the apparent threat received by Shailendra Kumar Sharma and a similar allegation being made by Champer M. Sangma (the petitioner in PIL No.8 of 2022), the High Court said that since the two petitioners ordinarily reside in Assam, the Director-General of Police, Assam should take appropriate steps through the officers-in-charge of the local police stations and the Superintendents of Police of the relevant districts to ensure the safety and security of the petitioners, their family members and lawyers representing them.
“The Director-General of Police, Assam will also look into the complaint filed by the petitioner on June 30, 2023 and ensure that appropriate steps in accordance with law are taken in respect thereof,” the High Court added.
The Advocate-General appearing for the Meghalaya government informed the High Court that a confidential communication has been made with the police authorities in Assam to take appropriate steps against persons based in Assam who may be the masterminds behind the illegal operation of coal-mining and coke oven plants in Meghalaya.
“It is hoped that adequate attention is given by the appropriate authorities in Assam in such regard,” the court said while ordering that a copy of this order will be immediately transmitted by the office of Advocate-General of Meghalaya to the Advocate-General of Assam for communication to the Director-General of Police, Assam with appropriate instructions.
Further, the High Court also said that the PIL by Champer M. Sangma which focuses on the source of coal used at the illegal coke oven plants in the State will now appear before the full bench of the court together with the PIL filed by Shailendra Kumar Sharma so that all matters pertaining to illegal mining of coal, the transportation of such illegally-mined coal, the use of such illegally-mined coal, the operation of coke oven plants without any permission or license and the failure on the part of the State to check overloaded vehicles on the State highways and roads can all be dealt with together.
The next hearing on both the PILs filed by Shailendra Kumar Sharma and Champer M. Sangma will be held on July 13.
