The Orissa High Court on Thursday granted interim protection to three family members of Deepak Gupta, the accused in the ` 1,500 crore Uliburu mines scam.
Acting on a writ petition filed by the family members challenging the FIR filed against them by State Vigilance in the illegal iron ore mining scam, the single judge bench of Justice BK Nayak granted interim protection from arrest to Deepak Gupta’s father Haricharan Gupta, mother Kantidevi and wife Nitu Gupta till September 11.
The petitioners had stated that they were mere directors of Deepak Steel and Power Ltd and had no active involvement in the business affairs nor any dealing.
Counsels for the petitioners Lalit Mishra and Manoj Mishra submitted that they did not have any vicarious liability as Deepak Gupta was the lone director, who managed the affairs of the Deepak Steel and Power Ltd as well as the Snehapuspa Marketing Pvt Limited, through which he had the power of attorney by the original lease-holder BK Mohanty.
Justice Nayak, while issuing notice to the State Government, has posted further hearing on the case to September 11.