Overview

• Justice Vishal Mishra, in a September 1 order, recorded that Sanjay Pathak attempted to call him about the matter and directed the petition be placed before the Chief Justice for listing before another bench.
• The petition was filed in June by Katni-based whistleblower Ashutosh ‘Manu’ Dixit, who says the EOW did not act on his January complaint alleging excessive extraction of minerals.
• Although not named as a respondent, Pathak sought to intervene; the court noted a power of attorney from family members including Nirmala Pathak and Yash Pathak.
• The Mineral Resource Department has imposed penalties on Nirmala Minerals, Anand Mining and Pacific Export and initiated recovery of ₹443 crore for excessive mining and ₹80 crore for GST evasion, as disclosed by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
• The EOW’s counsel said the complaint was forwarded to the Mineral Department’s Principal Secretary to assess cognisable offences, while the petitioner seeks FIRs and claims the state’s loss could exceed ₹1,700 crore.