Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Sep 3: On Thursday September 2, the officials of the state criminal investigation department (CID), arrested Mahesh Biliye, deputy conservator of Belekeri port near here, who they consider as the prime accused, relating to the iron ore disappearance scam. He is already under suspension.

The state forest department had filed police cases against the above official and representatives of 11 ore companies, holding them responsible for the theft of the ore stored at Belekeri port, which had earlier been confiscated by it. The worth of the missing ore, which is believed to have been illegally exported, has been put at around Rs 200 crore. Biliye was produced before the court in Ankola on Thursday, upon which, he was remanded to police custody till September 4.

So far, the CID police personnel have arrested four representatives of the ore companies involved with the scam. The representatives of other five companies have already secured anticipatory bail from the Dharwad circuit bench of the state High Court.

Under the instructions of the state Lokayukta, the forest department had confiscated approximately eight lac metric tonnes of iron ore that was stored at Belekeri port in the form of dumps. After obtaining permission from the court of the junior magistrate (first class) in Ankola, the confiscated iron ore was entrusted to the port deputy conservator, Mahesh Biliye. A major chunk of the ore went missing when the investigation was in progress, and hence, the department has shown Biliye as the prime accused in the iron ore missing case.