In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has suspended the seven-year prison sentence of Congress MLA Satish Sail, related to the infamous Belekeri iron ore disappearance case. Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the suspension order on Wednesday, following an appeal by Sail and other co-accused challenging the verdict of a special court designated for public representatives.
The special court had previously convicted Sail and others for their involvement in the illegal export of iron ore from the Belekeri port, imposing prison terms and fines. The High Court’s order stipulates that Sail, along with his co-accused, must deposit 25% of the fine amount with the trial court within the next six weeks to maintain the suspension of their sentences.
The case traces back to a wider investigation into unlawful iron ore exports from Karnataka’s Belekeri port between 2008 and 2013, focusing on the operations of the Mallikarjun Shipping Company, owned by Sail, who also serves as the MLA for the Karwar constituency. His company was implicated in facilitating these illegal shipments.
The Karnataka Lokayukta initially unearthed the scandal in 2010, discovering approximately eight lakh tons of iron ore that had been illegally transported from Bellary to Belekeri port without the necessary permits. This discovery prompted an extensive inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following directives from the Supreme Court in 2012 to probe the illicit extraction and transportation of iron ore in the region, especially during the period from January 2009 to May 2010.
