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Essar lobbied with state governments, exhorted MPs to write to Manmohan Singh, says affidavit

The affidavit of Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday has revealed that in 2012 Essar was not only lobbying with the Centre ministers but was also in touch with State governments and asking MPs to write letters to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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The affidavit of Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday has revealed that in 2012 Essar was not only lobbying with the Centre ministers but was also in touch with State governments and asking MPs to write letters to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

An email dated July 19, 2012 written by Essar’s Alok Chauhan says, “As per advise of Sh Sunil Bajaj ji, would like to apprise you that yesterday he had met Mr Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and had a detailed discussion on issue pending the Mines and Minerals Department of Government of Uttar Pradesh pertaining to availability of Stone Quarry for our Lucknow –Sultanpur NHAI Project. The Chief Minister has assured all possible support in the matter and have asked us to file a formal application with concerned department, so the same may be processed for prompt approvals.”

A testimony to the MP’s writing letters to the PM is an email dated May 11, 2012. The email reads: “Please find attached the draft copy of the letter that I have handed over to Mr Soumen Mitra today morning which he will be writing to the Prime Minister.” CPIL annexed copy of both draft letter and Soumen’s formal letter to the PM in their affidavit.

Demanding a court monitored investigation by an SIT or the CBI into the high level of political-bureaucratic-corporate nexus, CPIL has also alleged that Essar had easy access to government deliberations. These included records pertaining to discussion of meeting held by the Principal Secretary to the PM was sourced by the group. Besides, copy of meeting notice, replies prepared by Ministry of Petrol and Natural Gas and Ministry of Power, draft notes prepared by Ministry of Power, internal communications like copy of communication which Ministry of Power had sent to coal ministry requesting them to advice Coal India to supply coal to thermal power stations. 

The additional affidavit also said that this needs to be probed especially in the wake of CBI recently registering FIR into leaking of sensitive information as Essar was one of the beneficiary companies during the leaking of confidential government documents. 

In March, CBI had started probing into a case of Corporate Espionage, where government officials and some journalists along with corporate officials were arrested for leaking government’s internal information.

CPIL also alleged that Essar used its money power to cultivate influence over a large number of politicians and bureaucrats across the country. Some of them were obliged by Essar on its own, while some asked Essar for petty favour like accommodation and transportation. The following table, made from the information extracted from the affidavit and its annexure by dna, shows an unhealthy and unethical nexus between public servants and corporate interests.

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