Times of India reported that anti corruption sleuths have filed chargesheet against 23 people, including 16 government officers and 2 firms for their alleged involvement in the multicrore Ulliburu mining scam in Keonjhar district.

 

The chargesheet was filed at the special vigilance court in Keonjhar. According to vigilance sleuths, over 65 lakh tonne of iron ore worth INR 1523 crore was illegally excavated from the Ulliburu mines between 2004 and 2010.

 

The chargesheet names Mr Deepak Gupta, prime accused in the scam, his wife Ms Nitu, father Haricharan, mother Ms Kantadevi and brother Mr Champak. The 16 government officials include three deputy directors of mines, 4 mines officers, 3 senior inspectors of mines, 2 range officers and 4 forest officers. 2 firms, Deepak Steel and Power Limited and Snehapuspa Marketing Private Limited, through which the Guptas excavated and sold iron ore illegally, have also been named in the chargesheet. Both the firms are owned by the Gupta family. They have been charged for breach of trust (409), theft (379), forgery (468), 420 (cheating), 411(stealing property), criminal conspiracy and trespassing. Inquiry reports of vigilance, local tehsildar and mines department have also been attached to the chargesheet.

 

SP Mr S B Mishra said that "There is enough evidence that Mr Deepak Gupta and his family illegally raised and exported iron ore worth INR 1523 crore from Ulliburu, by virtue of a power of attorney of lease holder B K Mohanty. The entire scam was done in connivance with local mines and forest officers."

 

He said that “The number of accused might rise. The investigation is still on. If we find the involvement of other persons in the scam we will definitely take appropriate action against them."

 

Mr Deepak Gupta, who was operating an iron ore mine of B K Mohanty by virtue of a power of attorney, had excavated huge amount of iron ore from reserve forest area by shifting the boundary wall. He also dug ores from the lease area of Mr Jagdish Mishra, another mine owner, whose licence had earlier been revoked by the government for want of forest clearance. The state government noticed the irregularity in June and ordered a vigilance inquiry. Both Mr Mohanty and Mr Mishra have been named in the chargesheet.