The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday suspended the seven-year prison sentence for Congress MLA Satish Sail in the high-profile Belekeri iron ore case, pending the deposit of 25% of the fine amount within six weeks. Justice M. Nagaprasanna reviewed the appeal filed by Sail and co-accused, challenging the earlier sentence imposed by a special court for public representatives.
The case, dating back to a Karnataka Lokayukta investigation in 2010, centers on allegations of unauthorized iron ore exports from the Belekeri port. Investigators found that approximately eight lakh tons of iron ore were illegally transported without proper permits, triggering a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a Supreme Court directive in 2012. The CBI’s findings implicated prominent individuals across political lines, including BJP leaders G. Janardhan Reddy, Anand Singh, and Congress MLA B. Nagendra.
The special court had previously convicted Sail, his company Mallikarjun Shipping, and other individuals involved, underscoring the need for public officials to maintain integrity, irrespective of their formal office. Sail, who represents the Karwar constituency, was implicated due to Mallikarjun Shipping’s alleged role in facilitating unauthorized exports from the port.
The HC’s suspension order now paves the way for Sail’s conditional release, pending his adherence to the fine requirement. This decision has drawn attention to the larger issues within Karnataka’s mining sector, with the judiciary emphasizing accountability for those in positions of public trust.
