Daijiworld Media Network – Bellary (SP)

Bellary, Apr 29: Four high-powered teams led by chief forest conservator, U V Singh, under the directions of the state Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, conducted simultaneous raids on the stock yards of various mining companies in and around Hospet in the district and also the local office of the mines and geology department on Wednesday April 28. It is learnt, that the teams have taken into possession some incriminating documents which reveal about the covert operations of these mining companies.

Deputy director of mines, Raju, officials, Gurumurty, Yuvaraj, Prasad, Ramalingappa and Mallesh were subjected to intensive questioning, it is gathered. The teams also confiscated computers, stock of iron ore etc. Lokayukta deputy inspector general, Pranab Mohanty, 12 inspectors and Karnataka State Reserve Police contingents, assisted the raiding teams. B R Yogendranath Mines, Kharadapudi Mahesh Stockyard and P K Halli Stockyard were among the mining companies targetted by the Lokayukta.

It is learnt, these raids were conducted as a follow up action taken by the Lokayukta, based on the records recovered by it during the raid on Belekeri port near Karwar some time back. The Lokayukta had accessed some records which showed that iron ore was being transported from the mines in the district without any valid permits and without remitting royalties to the government as per rules. Fake permits were used, by hoodwinking the forest, transport, mines and revenue departments, it is alleged. It may be recalled that the forest department, which conducted a raid after the Lokayukta raid in Belekri, had confiscated six lac tonnes of iron ore stocked at Belekeri port illegally for being dispatched to China. Most of the ore confiscated was not backed by any records, it is claimed. The Lokayukta is certain that irregularities of such a scale would not have been possible without the connivance of top administrative and police officials from the districts lining the route from Bellary to Karwar, besides officials of revenue, forest, transport and mines and geology departments.

Sources said that the Lokayukta had sought help from the inspector general of police this time, as the teams sent earlier had not drawn proper support from the local policemen, when gangs of people had threatened the raiding officials.