HC relief for ex-MD of private power firm in terror-funding case

RANCHI: The Jharkhand high court on Monday gave relief to former managing director of Adhunik Power, Mahesh Agrawal, and director of Balaji Transport, Sonu Agrawal, by putting a stay on any coercive action against them till March 5. On January 17, a special NIA court had issued warrant against the duo in a case related to terror funding. A division bench comprising Justice Amitabh Gupta and Justice Rajesh Kumar ordered the stay till next date of hearing on March 5. Both Mahesh and Sonu had moved the high court to quash the case against them.
Lawyer Indrajit Sinha, who appeared on behalf of petitioners, said, “During the hearing, we argued that both the accused were extorted of money by rebels and cannot be termed as terror funding. The NIA has been asked to file a counter-affidavit in the matter.” Sinha added that the police had earlier registered an FIR saying that extortion of transporters was going on under Tandwa police station area of Chatra district. The NIA took over the investigation in 2018 on the ground that extortion threats amount to disruption of supply of coal across the country and therefore a terrorist act.