In Brief
This case involved illegal mining operations in Chhattisgarh's protected forests by lessee Anil Lunia, who extracted 1,22,686 tonnes of iron ore in violation of the Forest Conservation Act and mining lease conditions. The Court accepted the Central Empowered Committee's findings of flagrant violations and concluded that the State had taken adequate enforcement action, including issuing a demand notice for recovery of sale proceeds (Rs 6.67 crore), initiating revenue recovery proceedings, imposing disciplinary action on erring officials, and blacklisting the lessee. The Court declined the petitioner's prayer for a CBI enquiry, finding such action unnecessary given the State's demonstrated enforcement efforts, and permitted auction of confiscated ore in accordance with law."
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