Chandigarh, Aug. 13 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has dismissed a petition from Chadha sugar mills, seeking quashing of criminal proceedings for alleged spill of molasses into Beas river on May 17, 2018, that killed hundreds of fish and contaminated water for several kilometres, in Kapurthala, Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts.

The high court bench of justice HS Brar, while dismissing the plea, which also challenged their summoning by the trial court, said the imposition of fine by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for the alleged offence cannot be construed as an embargo on initiation of criminal prosecution against the mill and other accused.

Countless fish and other aquatic animals were found dead in Beas river on May ...