Cong demands CBI enquiry into mining scam

The Congress party in Orissa on Tuesday demanded a CBI inquiry into the multi-crore mining scam, saying the anti-corruption wing of the state police is 'incompetent' to probe the scandal impartially and effectively.

The Congress party in Orissa on Tuesday demanded a CBI inquiry into the multi-crore mining scam, saying the anti-corruption wing of the state police is 'incompetent' to probe the scandal impartially and effectively.

HT Image

"The state vigilance lacks adequate manpower to probe the scam. It is incompetent to inquire theft of minerals from Keonjhar district. Vigilance officials have admitted that they are ill-equipped to handle all aspects of the case," Congress leader Narasingh Mishra told reporters.

Stating that Congress leaders had held a detailed discussion on the scam with the vigilance director, he said since the anti-corruption wing was an agency of the state government, it could not function independently to conduct an impartial investigation.

"Therefore, there is absolute justification for handing over the mining case to the CBI and the state government should immediately recommend a probe by the central investigating agency," Mishra said.

The union mines ministry has also sought information about the scam from the state government and agreed to conduct an administrative inquiry into the matter, he said, adding that party leaders had met the union mines minister to put pressure on the state to give consent for a CBI probe.