Gupta sent to vigilance custody till Sep 11

A special vigilance court in Keonjhar today accepted the probe team's plea to take Deepak Gupta, main accused in the Rs 1,800 crore Uliburu mining scam, in remand till September 11 for further interrogation.

"The court was satisfied with the plea and directed that Gupta will remain in the custody of investigating officers till September 11. He will be produced before the court on the same day," said D D Biswal, the government counsellor.

Gupta was arrested on Wednesday nearly a month after the vigilance court declared him a fugitive.

Gupta, who was operating an iron ore mine of B K Mohanty by virtue of a power of attorney, has been accused of raising and selling iron ore from the mine violating the forest and mining laws. However, he has denied all the charges against him.

The probe team today raided an apartment in Barbil and found supporting documents showing involvement of Gupta and his family members in the scam.

The scam relating to illegal raising and export of iron ore worth Rs 1,800 crore up to 2009 from the 35 hectare iron ore lease of B K Mohanty at Uliburu in Joda mineral circle points finger to Gupta, who was operating the mine at that time. The mine is closed since 2009 following government crackdown.