Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Jun 21: The Lokayukta team that was deputed to Belekeri port in Uttara Kannada district to investigate the sudden disappearance of iron ore worth over Rs 200 crore from out of the stock confiscated by the investigators earlier could not undertake its task at the port. The ore companies refused to help the team with its task, it is learnt.

Complaints have already been filed against the conservator of Belekeri port, Mahesh Biliye, and 12 ore companies, holding them responsible for unauthorizedly and illegally taking away stock of iron ore in Belekeri and Karwar ports, which were in the possession of the Lokayukta.  Minister for ports, Krishna J Palemar, during his recent visit to Belekri port, had suspended Biliye, and ordered for an inquiry into the said incident.

On Thursday evening, a team comprising geology department officials, Y C Nagaraj, Z A Inamdar, A N Shirol and R Pampagouda visited the ports and served notices on the iron companies to extend cooperation in their investigation. The officials had brought with them documents concerned, but not the equipments to measure the stock and evaluate them. They had planned to make use of the equipments of the ore companies.

However, the companies failed to extend cooperation to the team. The officials waited at Belekeri port for four days, but to no avail. The ore companies are understood to have put forth the argument that valuation of the stock was the responsibility of the team and not the companies concerned. They therefore, said they were not bound to extend any cooperation for the investigation.

In the meantime, sources said that the ore companies have approached the High Court, seeking a stay on the valuation work of the iron stock at Belekeri and Karwar ports, and that the High Court has declined to issue a favourable order, commenting that the companies have no locus standi in the matter, as the ore in question is in the custody of the government.