The High Court of Karnataka has rejected the petition filed by JSW Steel Ltd., which had questioned the cognisance of offences taken by a special court against the company in an alleged money laundering case for its transaction with illegal mining scam-tainted Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt. Ltd. (OMC), owned by the former Minister G. Janardhana Reddy.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna said the April 11, 2022 order passed by the special court in taking cognisance of the offence against the company was “in consonance with the principles laid down by the apex court on the application of mind by the trial court while taking cognisance of offences.”
“The special judge observing that he has perused all relevant materials relating to the case before cognisance was taken cannot result in failure of justice. Since cognisance is taken on a police report and not on a private complaint it is not obligatory for the judge to issue a fully reasoned order,” the High Court said while refusing to accept the company’s contention that the order of the special court failed to reflect application of mind while taking cognisance of offence.
