Bangalore: The Karnataka CID has filed a chargesheet against three mining firms and an official of the Belekere Port in connection with illegal export of five lakh metric tons of iron ore.
The chargesheet was filed against Mahesh Biliye, Port Conservator of Belekere port, Salagaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, Tungabhadra Minerals Pvt Ltd and Gimpex Ltd before the Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Ankola on December 24.
The representatives of the mining firms—Ramasubba Reddy, Executive Director of Tungabhadra Minerals, Ramachandra Vasu Nayak, Senior Manager of Salagaonkar Mining Industries and K Chandran, Supervisor of Gimpex have also been charged under various sections of IPC.
On June 8, a complaint was filed by Assistant the Conservator of Forests, Ankola Sub-Division, in Ankola Court, regarding theft of about 5 lakh MT iron ore which was seized and retained at Belekere Port by the Forest Department.
The investigation of the case was transferred to CID later after the issue created a furore in both the Houses of the legislature.
Belekere Port area is sub-leased to four stevedores which are alleged to have conspired with some export companies in illegal export of seized iron ore from that port.
According to the chargesheet Mahesh Biliye, who was entrusted by the Court with the custody of the seized iron ore, conspired with the export companies and also the stevedore, Salagaonkar Mining Industsries and helped them in the theft and illegal export.
In pursuance of this conspiracy, Salagaonkar Mining Industsries stole and exported 50250.610 MT iron ore, it said.
A total of 1,05,639.76 MT of seized iron ore was stolen, of which 97,551.700 MT of iron ore was exported from Belekere Port, thereby, causing loss of Rs 44,31,20,630.78 to the Government, the chargesheet said.
PTI
