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Madhya Pradesh HC judge says BJP MLA contacted him, recuses himself from hearing illegal mining case

Justice Vishal Mishra says Vijayraghavgarh MLA Sanjay Pathak tried to contact him ‘to have a discussion regarding this particular matter’. A Writ petition had been filed in the High Court seeking action against people accused of illegal mining.

Sanjay Pathak, Vijayraghavgarh MLA Pathak, Madhya Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice, Indian express news, current affairsThe case is related to a Writ petition filed in the High Court seeking action against those accused of illegal mining.
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A Madhya Pradesh High Court judge recently recused himself from hearing a case after revealing that BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak tried to contact him in connection with the case.

Justice Vishal Mishra said that Vijayraghavgarh MLA Pathak had tried to contact him on the phone.

“Mr Sanjay Pathak has made an attempt to call me to have a discussion regarding this particular matter. Therefore, I am not inclined to entertain this Writ petition,” Justice Mishra said.

He recused from the case and ordered that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of the High Court for listing before another Bench.

“Let the matter be placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice for listing the matter before the appropriate Bench for consideration,” the court said.

The case is related to a Writ petition filed in the High Court seeking action against those accused of illegal mining.

A man named Ashutosh Dixit had approached the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal, levelling allegations regarding the matter. In January, he moved the High Court, alleging inaction on the part of EOW. Dixit argued that the EOW failed to conclude a preliminary enquiry within a time-bound period.

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In the petition, he accused companies linked to Pathak and his family of excessive mining of iron ore and other minerals.

Pathak, who had served as the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises during the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in 2016, filed an application before the High Court, seeking to intervene in the matter and seeking that he be heard too.

He has not responded The Indian Express’s calls and messages seeking his comment on the matter.

 

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Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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