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2023 (11) TMI 878 - HC - Indian LawsAllegation against the officials of four public sector oil companies viz. IOCL, HPCL, BPCL and IBP - Respondent Accused were discharged by the CBI Court - Sale of High Speed Diesel (HSD) to various private industries of three States viz. Gujarat, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh at concessional rates of sales tax - non-compliance with the mandatory requisite permission from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas - Revenue loss to Government - HELD THAT:- In the case of MOHD. HADI RAJA VERSUS STATE OF BIHAR AND ORS. [1998 (4) TMI 576 - SUPREME COURT], the Apex Court observed that the importance of the public undertaking should not be minimised. It is observed that the government's concern for the smooth functioning of such instrumentality or agency can be well appreciated but on the plain language of Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the protection by way of sanction is not available to the officers of the public undertaking because being a juridical person and distinct legal entity such instrumentality stands on a different footing than the government departments. Here, in the case on hand, the aspect of sanction by the authority concerned would bear not of much importance. The issue is whether C.B.I. had any case to even lodge a prosecution. Admittedly CVC too had not found any case against the accused to grant sanction. The compilation and circulation by OCC on 08.07.1991, of the Guidelines for Release of Petroleum Products and Lubricants to Direct Consumers have not been denied, which suggests that the same was in force and all oil companies were following the guidelines since 1991. The chargesheet has been filed for period between 1997-2000. The guidelines of OCC dated 08.07.1991 had not found any change. The letter of the OCC dated 04.12.1996 to the under Secretary MoP&NG, New Delhi, for the requirement of HSD/ HF HSD/LSHF and NGL/Naphtha for M/s. Shaynoa Petrochem Ltd. for manufacture of speciality solvent and lubricants, reflects that the TEC was required to evaluate the requirement, and submit the recommendation to MoP&NG and based on the recommendation of the TEC, it was noted that, MoP&NG, may consider to release of HSD/HF-HSD/LSHF for processing use ex-Koyali refinery, while the supply of NGL ex-Hazira was ruled out, as the only possibility was of supplying Naphtha ex-Koyali refinery of IOC - While observing the TEC by the Circular dated 27.03.2002, it was specifically noted by the under Secretary, Government of India that the matter was reviewed by the Ministry and on dismantling of the APM from 01.04.2002, in the circular, it was noted that the price of diesel would be also decontrolled, and under such circumstances, the specific objective and role of the TEC had lost its purpose and relevance, and were informed that the TEC stood dissolved with effect from 01.04.2002. This Court finds that the Special Judge, CBI Court No. 2 Ahmedabad has not committed any error in discharging the accused by allowing their Criminal Revision Applications preferred against the orders of rejection of their discharge applications by orders dated 27.05.2019 below different Exhibits in 36 applications and by the orders dated 13.03.2018 below different Exhibits in 3 applications by the Learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Special CBI Court No. 1, Ahmedabad in Special Case arising out of FIR RC No. 12(A)-2000-GNR. No sanction has been granted for prosecuting the officers of the oil companies. The assessment made by the Special Judge discharging the accused is consistent with the record. The orders passed by the learned Special Judge, CBI Court No. 2, Ahmedabad allowing the Revision Applications and discharging the accused – respondents herein are just and correct, the findings are in accordance to the documents on record, the accused are rightly discharged, as there are no sufficient grounds for proceedings against them - Application dismissed.
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