Karnataka High Court quashes 482.69cr penalty, confirms ACC Limited lease
Business
Big news for ACC Limited, part of the Adani Group: The Karnataka High Court has scrapped a massive ₹482.69 crore penalty for alleged illegal limestone mining in Kalaburagi.
The court decided ACC's mining lease was properly extended until March 31, 2030, so their operations weren't actually illegal.
Court orders 125cr refund to ACC
The judges pointed out that just because a supplementary lease deed was delayed over royalty payments, it doesn't mean ACC was breaking the rules.
They also sided with ACC on how mining amounts were calculated: verified records were more reliable than the state's estimates.
Plus, the court ordered the state to refund ₹125 crore to ACC, restore their online portal access, and get that lease paperwork sorted without extra hurdles.