Solanki’s prosecution: ‘Guv’s decision based on facts’

The Governor’s office told the Gujarat High Court Thursday that Kamla Beniwal’s decision to allow prosecution of Fisheries Minister Purushottam Solanki in a fishing contracts scam was based on “facts and relevant documents”.

Senior advocate Suresh Shelat argued that Beniwal took into consideration all the relevant factors,including the manner in which Solanki had granted fishing lease against the established government policy,before granting sanction to prosecute him. He said the chief secretary,the finance adviser and other concerned government officials had objected to Solanki’s decision.

Mukul Sinha,who represents original complainant Ishaq Maradia,said the Governor’s office main argument was that “to question the order of Governor would be beyond the jurisdiction of the court since it was based on facts and relevant documents”.