A view shows a high-tension electric power line pylon outside Adani Power’s thermal power generation plant in Mundra, India’s western state of Gujarat, November 30, 2024. Photo credit: Reuters
The Bombay High Court on Monday (December 16, 2024) dismissed a petition alleging that the contract awarded by the Maharashtra government to the Adani Group to supply renewable and thermal power was a scam, and that former Maharashtra Chief Minister and current Deputy Chief Minister Eknath. Shinde was involved in corruption while awarding contracts. The court held that the petition was vague, baseless and careless and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner Shriraj Nageshwar Aipurwar.
According to Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner alleges that the contract awarded to Adani Group for the supply of 6,600 megawatts (MW) of renewable and thermal electricity violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to supply electricity at a reasonable rate. The petitioner also alleged corruption by Mr. Shinde while awarding the contract to the Adani Group.
The petition cited recent bribery charges by the United States Department of Justice against Adani Group chief Gautam Adani.
The bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar held that the petitioner’s argument has no merit and the petition cannot be allowed based only on the allegations filed in the American court.
“In our opinion, filing such a writ petition with unsubstantiated and frivolous arguments sometimes risks defeating good causes. There is a hidden agenda. The mere word ‘scam’ does not sway us. The petitioner has made vague and baseless claims that the contract awarded by the government agency is a scam. “There was no supporting material in the petitioner’s statement to show that former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was involved in any corrupt practice,” the bench noted.
The bench further held that the petitioner had not participated in the tender process for the contract which was awarded to Adani Power Limited. “The petition has no substantial and supporting material and contains completely bald and vague allegations, which in our opinion do not persuade us to entertain,” the bench said while dismissing the petition and imposing a fee of ₹ 50,000 on the petitioner. , payable to Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority.
published – December 16, 2024 at 07:35 pm IST