No Evidence of Illegal Act, Says Court While Clearing Hindalco Executives

A Delhi court has discharged Hindalco Industries Limited and two of its former executives in a case concerning alleged irregularities in the utilisation of the Talabira-I coal block in Odisha.

The order was passed by Special Judge Dheeraj Mor, who observed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had failed to establish any illegal act on the part of the company or its former executives, S K Tamotia and P R S Mani.

In an order dated May 30, the court stated that there was no evidence on record to suggest that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy or committed any illegal act, including offences related to criminal breach of trust or cheating.

The judge noted that in the absence of any material indicating wrongdoing, there was no justifiable basis to proceed with charges against the company and its former officials. Consequently, the court held that they were entitled to be discharged from the case.

The matter pertained to allegations regarding the use of the Talabira-I coal block in Odisha, which had been investigated by the CBI as part of broader scrutiny surrounding coal block allocations and their utilisation.

The ruling represents a significant legal relief for Hindalco and the former executives, bringing closure to proceedings in which investigators had sought to establish criminal liability.

Legal experts noted that the court’s decision underscores the principle that criminal charges must be supported by credible evidence demonstrating unlawful conduct before a trial can proceed.

The CBI has not yet publicly commented on whether it will challenge the discharge order before a higher court.