In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a High Court order that had directed release of seized iron ore based on a final report in an unrelated criminal investigation. The issue arose when the High Court relied solely on a 'B' report (finding no case against the respondent) filed in a separate SIT investigation (Crime No. 2/2014) to quash an order passed in different criminal proceedings where the iron ore had been seized and placed for e-tender disposal under Section 451/457 CrPC. The Court held that the final report in one criminal case cannot be the sole basis for overturning an order in a separate proceeding, absent a clear nexus. The Court allowed the respondent to file a fresh application before the jurisdictional criminal court, establishing existence and ownership of the ore, for proper consideration under law.
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