The CID, which probed into the missing ore at Belikere port near Karwar in February/March this year, filed its first chargesheet on December 24, naming seven accused. They were allegedly responsible for illegal export of seized iron ore 1.05 lakh MT, causing loss of over Rs 44 crore to the government.
In the chargesheet filed before CJM & JMFC Ankola, the CID has charged that the port conservator of Belikere Mahesh Billiye had connived with export companies Stevedore, Salagaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd., and helped them export the iron ore seized by the forest department officials, says a press release.
As per the chargesheet, Salagaonkar company had illegally exported 50,250.610 MT of iron ore, while its sister company Tungabhadra Minerals had sold 23,504.300 MT of iron ore to them. Besides, Gimpex Ltd had illegally exported 31,884.850 of iron ore.
The chargesheet has named Mahesh Billiye, representatives of Salagaonkar Mining industries, Tungabhadra Minerals, Gimpex Ltd., Tungabhadra Minerals executive director Ramasubba Reddy, Salagaonkar Mining Industries senior manager Ramachandra Vasu Nayak, Gimpex Supervisor K Chandran in this case.
In the press release, CID DGP D V Guruprasad has said that the investigation into in the case was still in progress and this was the first chargesheet.
The case came to light in February when the Lokayukta unearthed illegal transport of over 8 million tonnes at Belikere port. The forest department was asked to seize the ore and file a complaint with local police.
Later, 10 mining companies had approached the high court seeking release of the iron ore. When they did not get a favourable ruling, they just exported 5.5 million tonnes of iron ore, worth over Rs 250 crore, without even paying customs duty.
When this came to light, Karwar DCF Gokul, through ACF Hithalamakki, lodged a complaint with local police. When local police were reluctant to book a case, Gokul approached the SP and threatened to file a private complaint in the court if they did not register the case for `breech of trust' and `theft' against the mining companies.
Karwar police registered the case and wrote to the state police chief to hand over the case to CID.
Read more: CID files charges, names 7 in missing ore case - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/CID-files-charges-names-7-in-missing-ore-case/articleshow/7174838.cms#ixzz19TeZHNk5
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