The Hindu : What happens to criminal case against Sanjay Khan?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

What happens to criminal case against Sanjay Khan?

By Divya Sreedharan

BANGALORE Feb. 12. What will now happen to the criminal case against actor/entrepreneur Sanjay Khan?

On Tuesday, the State Cabinet announced it was withdrawing the power theft case against Mr. Khan. The Information Minister, Kagodu Thimmappa, said Mr. Khan did not have to pay any more money as penalty.

When first chargesheeted, Mr. Khan was to pay Rs. 35 lakh as part of his civil liability, but this was later reduced to Rs. 7.22 lakh or so. Mr. Thimmappa insisted on Tuesday that this was the correct sum.

Now, officials of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and its Vigilance Wing do not know the status of criminal proceedings against Mr. Khan.

The Bescom board, for instance, is still hearing Mr. Khan's appeal against the decision of the First Appellate Authority, which imposed the fine on him. "They (Mr. Khan's counsel) do not appear too keen to pursue the case," sources say.

In fact, Bescom even wrote to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) asking them not to independently review the case till its own hearings were over.

But, the criminal case registered by the Vigilance Wing against Mr. Khan is scheduled to come up on February 14 at the First Additional District and Sessions Court here. Mr. Khan has even been summoned to appear.

At a previous hearing on October 8, Mr. Khan's counsel urged the court to exempt him from appearing. But the court turned down the appeal.

Vigilance sources say they are helpless. "What can we do now that the Government has taken this decision?" they ask. They are also not sure if the February 14 hearing is on.

The KERC, meanwhile, says it will definitely take up the case once it has finished dealing with the power companies' petition for tariff hike. "This is a long-pending affair," the KERC Member, H.R. Gopal, observes.

The power theft allegedly occurred when Mr. Khan was building his `World Resort and Spa' in Nelamangala in 1998. Though it was sanctioned 4 kW. of temporary power, 30 kW. was allegedly used. Then, KPTCL slapped a Rs. 54 lakh back-billing charge on Mr. Khan. In March 1999, the Vigilance Wing claimed that the case probe was over. Mr. Khan, who steadfastly denied the charges, claimed the KPTCL was "harassing him", and organised a media visit to the resort site, to disprove the allegation.

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