Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday imposed fine of Rs 10 lakh to a Udupi businessman for suppressing facts in a public Interest litigation (PIL).

Prashanth Amin had alleged that “Raj Fishmeal and Oil Company”, owned by former minister Pramod Madhwaraj, was violating the environmental laws and he had concealed the fact that he had business relations with the said company and has filed a suit against the company is pending for adjudication.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed Prashant Amin to transfer the imposed fine amount to the Advocates’ Clerks’ Association within a month. The
bench said the amount should be utilise for the benefit of the members of the association who faced severe financial crises during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bench directed the deputy commissioner of Udupi to take steps to recover the imposed fine sum by launching suitable proceedings, if the amount is not deposited within the stipulated time.

Prashanth Amin, in his suit had sought directions to the authorities for appropriate action against Raj Fishmeal and Oil Company for polluting the ecosystem.

The statement of objections, the company said that the petitioner had begun his career as a sub-agent and later as a main agent supplying ‘Rotten Fish’ to the company till March 2020.

The company stopped buying fish from the petitioner after he started demanding more money during the pandemic. The company also claimed that there are four other industries in Udupi district involved in manufacturing of fishmeal and fish oil against whom the petitioner has not raised any objections regarding