HUBLI, September 25: Samaj Parivartan Samudaya president S.R. Hiremath, who released certain documents pertaining to partnership firm V.S. Lad and Sons here on Tuesday, demanded that Minister for Infrastructure and Information Santosh Lad, who is a partner in the company, furnish an explanation on his role in the company.
Addressing presspersons, Mr. Hiremath said that Mr. Lad had been repeatedly saying that his name had not been mentioned in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining and that the allegations against him were false. He had even challenged him (Mr. Hiremath) to produce documents in support of his allegations. Handing out copies of a partnership deed of February 23, 2006 pertaining to V.S. Lad and Sons, Mr. Hiremath said that the partnership deed revealed that Mr. Lad was a working partner in the company, drawing a salary of over Rs. 1 crore per year, with a profit ratio of 25 per cent.
Mr. Hiremath said that the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, defined a working partner as an agent of the company. “Section 25 of the Act says that that the partners are individually or jointly responsible for all the acts of the company and partners. This clearly indicates that Mr. Lad is responsible for the actions of the company,” he said.
Mr. Hiremath said that the operative part of final judgment of the Green Bench of the Supreme Court of India on April 18, 2013 in writ petition no 562/2009 clearly said that V.S. Lad and Sons was involved in “gross illegal mining” and the court placed the company under ‘C’ category.
“The notification issued by the State government on September 12, 2013 cancelling mining leases of companies under ‘C’ category has the name of V.S. Lad and Sons in the 45th place,” Mr. Hiremath said.
Mr. Hiremath criticised Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra for defending Mr. Lad. He said that being a Law Minister, Mr. Jayachandra should properly read the court order which had ordered cancellation of mining leases before going to the rescue to his colleague. Also, he urged the Chief Minister to immediately look into the documents being furnished now and consider the demand for Mr. Lad’s resignation. Refuting Mr. Lad’s claim that his name was not mentioned in the Lokayukta report, Mr. Hiremath also released a copy of a letter (of August 10, 2011) submitted by managing partner of V.S. Lad and Sons Eknath Lad seeking the removal of the company’s name from the final report of the Lokayukta.
