Odisha vigilance wing files chargesheet in Uliburu mining scam

Anti-corruption vigilance wing of the Odisha Police today filed charge sheet against 23 persons and two firms in connection with multi-crore Uliburu mining scam even as Justice M B Shah Commission recommended a CBI probe into alleged mining loot worth Rs 2,000 crore.
"We have submitted the chargesheet against 23 persons and two firms at the Special Judge Court at Keonjhar," Vigilance SP S B Mishra told PTI, adding the persons included prime accused Deepak Gupta, the power of attorney holder of Uliburu mines in Odisha's Keonjhar district.
Mishra said the charge sheet had been filed after taking into account several reports, including those by the Tehsildar and Mining department, which substantiated the involvement of several officials.

Gupta, who was given the power of attorney by B K Mohanty, the lessee of Uliburu iron ore and manganese mines, had illegally mined around 45.22 lakh tonnes of iron ore from Uliburu reserve forest and gained Rs 893.67 crore as profit during 2003-2010, Mishra said.
Uliburu mines area is located in the Joda mining circle where large scale irregularities were detected by the state Mines department. Gupta was found to have raised ore from the reserve forest area adjacent to the mines by shifting the lease boundary, the charge sheet said.