<h1>Public interest petition withdrawn seeking probes into short-seller allegations against mining group dismissed; foreign interference, name-lender claims questioned</h1> The Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation withdrawn by a petitioner seeking regulatory probes into allegations made by a US-based short-seller against a multinational mining and metals group and related firms. The bench questioned foreign entities' interference in domestic affairs and, on submissions from the government and market regulators, characterized the complainant as a short-seller and the petitioner as a mere name-lender, raising maintainability and credibility concerns. Counsel for the petitioner limited relief to directing SEBI and the central bank to investigate alleged irregularities but withdrew the petition; the court declined further adjudication and warned of costs if put to notice. Earlier, two judges had recused themselves.