Vigilance raid on Sirajuddin mines

The vigilance sleuths today raided the iron ore and manganese ore mines owned by Sirajuddin and Company in Joda area.

Raid was carried out in Balda and Guruda mines along with the residence, head office of the company located in Kolkata and two branch offices located in Joda and Balda.

Sixteen teams consisting of officials of vigilance, geologist, mining, commercial tax, revenue and transport took part in the raid carried out in the mines located in Keonjhar district, in connection with the alleged illegal mining operations running into hundreds of crores.

The raid was conducted in two branch offices of the company namely Kusum Powernet Private Ltd. and Starlite Private Ltd. A transport company and a raising company associated with it were also raided. This is the sixth property being investigated by the state vigilance since the surfacing of the allegations of mining scam in the state in June this year.

The vigilance also collected some documents pertaining to the illegal mining activities of the company from the directorate of mines and Orissa State Pollution Control Board. “The vigilance raided sixteen locations including two mines owned by Sirajuddin and Co”, Debadutta Pattanaik, SP (vigilance) said.