Congress demands CBI probe into mining scam

The state Congress unit today demanded an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged Rs 4000 crore mining scam at Rudukela and Katasahi in Keonjhar district.

Alleging the vigilance enquiry ordered by the state government is only eyewash, the party indicated that it may move the court for directing the state government for handing over the enquiry to CBI.

A delegation of the party led by Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president K P Singhdeo today met the director, vigilance and demanded to extend the scope of the enquiry to cover theft of minerals, which is currently out of the purview of the probe.

Addressing the media, senior Congress leader Narasingha Misra said, a delegation of the party functionaries had met the Union mines minister in New Delhi recently and apprised him of the mining scam in the state. The minister has agreed to institute an administrative enquiry into the matter.

The party is exploring various options on the issue and may pray to the court to direct the state government to request the Union government for a CBI enquiry into the matter, Misra added.

He said, the vigilance enquiry ordered by the state government is not making any attempt to track those people involved in the transportation of the minerals, procurement of minerals and there is no seizure of cash by the vigilance. “Industrial houses, transporters and mines owners involved in the scam are going scot free and the state government is trying to cover up the matter. In this backdrop, the mining scam in the state is a fit case for CBI probe”, Misra asserted. OPCC president K P Singhdeo was also present in the press conference.