Jayanthi Natarajan booked in a corruption case, her premises raided by CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today raided the premises of former Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan in Chennai. The CBI raids were conducted in connection with a case of lease of land in Saranda forest of Jharkhand.

Besides Chennai, the CBI also conducted searches at premises in Delhi, Kolkata, Ranchi and Odisha's Sundergarh in connection with the case.

The CBI has filed FIR against former environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan under section 120B and Prevention of Corruption Act, abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy.

The CBI also filed FIR against Electrosteel Casting Ltd and others under section 120B and Prevention of Corruption Act. The Electrosteel Casting Ltd was the beneficiary in the lease of forest land for mining of iron and manganese ores in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

The environment ministry headed by Jayanthi Natarajan gave approval for leasing of forest land in February 2012. The CBI says that the approval was given by abusing official position in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

According to the FIR registered by the CBI, the preliminary probe by the agency found "criminal conspiracy between Jayanthi Natarajan" and the beneficiary party. The CBI has accused Jayanthi Natarajan of "abuse of official position... in pursuance to this criminal conspiracy."

The CBI is already probing cases against two companies for alleged diversion of forest land for mining purposes. The diversion was done when Jayanthi Natarajan was the environment minister at the Centre under Manmohan Singh government.

Read the full report on the case here

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Former Union minister Jayanthi Natarajan booked in corruption case, premises raided by CBI