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SC for CBI probe into illegal Bellary mining
The Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday to probe the alleged transportation and export of 50.79 lakh MT illegally extracted iron ore from Karnataka’s Bellary district.
This is the second case on the illegal mining front to be handed over to the premier investigating agency, which is already looking into the role of former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and his links with mining companies who were granted mining leases in lieu of monetary benefits.
The special forest bench of Justices Aftab Alam, KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar directed CBI probe, on the suggestion from the SC-appointed expert panel — Central Empowered Committee. The CEC had examined the case and recommended institution of criminal cases under the Mines and Mineral Act, the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act.
What had outraged the CEC and the court was the brazen manner in which 8 lakh MT out of the 50.79 lakh MT that was seized and kept at Belekeri Port on the Karnataka border had disappeared overnight. Questioning the efficacy of the State administration to prevent the ore being exported right under its notice, the court was convinced that the CB-CID of the State police could not be entrusted with the probe.
"Can anyone imagine that the authorities, from the lowest to the highest, were not aware of it," the bench remarked. The court directed the CBI to probe the nexus between the Government officials, port authorities and mining operators.
The State Government, however, opposed the transfer of investigation to CBI claiming it would cast a cloud on the efficacy of the State police. The court directed the State police not to interfere with CBI investigation and blocked any courts from interfering with the probe. The CBI would file a preliminary report on status of probe after six weeks.
The Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday to probe the alleged transportation and export of 50.79 lakh MT illegally extracted iron ore from Karnataka’s Bellary district.
This is the second case on the illegal mining front to be handed over to the premier investigating agency, which is already looking into the role of former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and his links with mining companies who were granted mining leases in lieu of monetary benefits.
The special forest bench of Justices Aftab Alam, KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar directed CBI probe, on the suggestion from the SC-appointed expert panel — Central Empowered Committee. The CEC had examined the case and recommended institution of criminal cases under the Mines and Mineral Act, the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act.
What had outraged the CEC and the court was the brazen manner in which 8 lakh MT out of the 50.79 lakh MT that was seized and kept at Belekeri Port on the Karnataka border had disappeared overnight. Questioning the efficacy of the State administration to prevent the ore being exported right under its notice, the court was convinced that the CB-CID of the State police could not be entrusted with the probe.
"Can anyone imagine that the authorities, from the lowest to the highest, were not aware of it," the bench remarked. The court directed the CBI to probe the nexus between the Government officials, port authorities and mining operators.
The State Government, however, opposed the transfer of investigation to CBI claiming it would cast a cloud on the efficacy of the State police. The court directed the State police not to interfere with CBI investigation and blocked any courts from interfering with the probe. The CBI would file a preliminary report on status of probe after six weeks.
