M'rashtra minister's plea against jail term rejected

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea by Maharashtra Transport Minister Swarup Singh Naik to review the one month imprisonment awarded to him.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea by Maharashtra Transport Minister Swarup Singh Naik to review the one-month imprisonment awarded to him for committing Contempt of Court.

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Ashok Khot, who was sentenced to one month simple imprisonment along with the Minister for clandestinely giving licence for operation of six wood-based industries in 2004 despite a ban on the same.

The verdict was pronounced after holding chamber proceedings on the review petition filed by them.

When the licence was granted for operating the saw mills by them, Naik was Environment and Forest Minister and Khot Principal Secretary in the Ministry.

The Supreme Court in 2002 had banned the operation of saw-mills, but Naik and Khot gave licenses to six such mills in violation of the order.