Ahmedabad:
Narendra Modi will not be charged with contempt of court for refusing to sanction the prosecution of one of his ministers in Gujarat.
The Gujarat High Court today dismissed a petition that wanted the chief minister to be held in contempt for failing to follow the court's orders while deciding whether Purshottam Solanki, a cabinet minister, should be prosecuted for corruption.
The High Court had in March asked Mr Modi and his cabinet to consult with the state's governor, Dr Kamla Beniwal, before taking a call. A petitioner, Ishaq Maradia, said that the chief minister and the cabinet ignored this while deciding not to allow the minister's prosecution.
The High Court today said that the cabinet should forward documents related to its decision to the Governor who will then indicate whether to accept or reject the chief minister's decision.
Mr Maradia says that the minister accused of graft, Mr Solanki, granted fishing contracts in 2009 without any tendering process, and this cost the government Rs 400 crore.