2.1 mn tonnes of iron ore illegally exported; CBI registers 22 cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered 22 cases against companies involved in alleged exports of 2.1 million tonnes of iron ore without valid permits from Belekeri port in Karnataka.

The action comes on the directives of the Supreme Court, CBI said here on Thursday.

"In the 22 First Information Reports (FIRs), 15 companies, six partnership firms and two proprietory concerns are under investigation. 50 individuals have been identified in the FIRs connected to this probe other than public servants of the Mines and Geology Department, Forest Department and others who would be identified only during investigation," the CBI said.

The agency has booked these persons under IPC sections related to cheating, forgery among others, provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and violation of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Section 24 of Karnataka Forest Act, 1963.

"The mining of iron ore, without permit, including such mining in Forest Land in Bellary District of Karnataka, and connected trading and export of iron ore is already under the investigation of CBI through the report of the Centrally- Empowered Committee," CBI said.

It said the Committee had in September, 2012 apprised the apex that there were also similar irregularities in extraction of 50.79 lakh tonnes from forest areas of Karnataka from 2009 to 2010.