Unhappy With CBI Investigation, Karnataka Hands Over 76 Illegal Mining Cases to SIT

Representative image (PTI)

Bengaluru: Adani Enterprises, Baldota Group’s MSPL and Goa-based Salgaocar Mining Industries are among the 76 companies/ individuals who will face a fresh probe by a Special Investigation Team on illegal mining and export of iron ore from Karnataka.

The Karnataka cabinet on Wednesday approved the handing over of 76 fresh cases to the SIT, unhappy with the investigation of the last four years by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The illegal mining cases pertains to that which happened primarily in Bellary but also a few neighbouring districts like Tumkur and Chitradurga between 2006 and 2010, when the state was ruled by the JDS and the BJP.

The decision follows a recommendation by a state cabinet sub-committee that was especially formed to look into the matter. This comes after the CBI filed closure reports in most of the cases handed to it, citing lack of evidence.

The cases had been referred to the CBI after a Lokayukta report had indicted ministers in the Karnataka government for their role in illegal mining in 2010 – even the then chief minister BS Yeddyurappa was asked to step down by his own party the BJP after the scam.

The Congress government that rode to power in 2013 on this issue has been watching with some anxiety as the CBI sent reports of lack of evidence in one case after another. Finally, two weeks back it acted on its sub-committee’s recommendation to set up an SIT to reinvestigate these cases – and 26 cases were handed to the SIT.

Now, an additional 76 cases have been given to the SIT and it has been given a year’s time to prosecute all those involved in illegal mining. Interestingly, among the companies listed for the current prove is VSL Mining Co, a company in which Santosh Lad, a minister in the Congress government, and his brother Anil Lad, also a Congress MLA, have interest in.

Government reports estimate that about 1,028 shipments of iron ore were shipped out of the Mangalore sea port alone in these four years – 2, 85, 98,975.6 metric tonnes of ore having found their way out of the state, a significant chunk of which is expected to have been done without permit.