Key accused of Rs 840 cr mining scam arrested

Anti-corruption vigilance sleuths of Odisha Police today arrested Deepak Gupta, the prime accused in the Rs 840 crore illegal mining activities in mineral-rich Keonjhar district.
"Deepak Gupta, accused of the illegal mining case has been arrested...He will be produced before Special Vigilance court in Keonjhar tomorrow," said vigilance SP S B Mishra.
Gupta was on the run after the vigilance registered cases against him and his family members.
Cases were made against him under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Besides Gupta, cases had been filed against Champak Gupta, directors of Snehapusph Marketing Pvt Ltd, Hari Charan Gupta, Kanta Devi Gupta, and Nitu Gupta, all directors of Deepak Steel and Power Limited, officials said.

Charges had also been made against other public servants for illegal mining and theft of iron ore from Uliburu Iron Ore Mines and Reserve Forest Area causing loss of Rs 839,67,11,748 to the government exchequer, they said.

"We have sufficient evidences regarding involvement of Gupta in the scam," Mishra said.
Earlier the vigilance had arrested mines lesseese B K Mohanty on charge of the illegal activities. After spending a fortnight in the jail, Mohanty has availed bail from the Orissa High Court.
The state government has placed two IFS officers under suspension on charge of not taking any action as divisional forest officer of Keonjhar division when Gupta and others illegally excavated iron ore from reserve forest area at Uliburu.

Meanwhile, Gupta rejected allegations against him and claimed, "These are all fabricated stories against me.