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Orissa Police begins probe into missing mining file
Orissa Police today started investigation into the incident of an important file relating to the multi-crore mining scam going missing from the state secretariat.
Orissa Police on Tuesday started investigation into the incident of an important file relating to the multi-crore mining scam going missing from the state secretariat.
A police team from the Capital Police Station recorded statement of D S Jena, an under secretary-rank officer in the Department of Steel and Mines. The missing file had been in the custody of Jena, police said.
The action came a day after the department lodging a complaint with the police stating that a file containing documents of S N Das Mohapatra mines has gone missing from the secretariat.
Meanwhile, according to Manoj Ahuja, the secretary of the department, a departmental inquiry had also been ordered into the incident.
The Das Mohapatra mines file was important as it was one of the three private mines against whom the vigilance department had filed chargesheet at a court accusing it of misappropriating about Rs 54 crore by indulging in illegal mining activities.
The private mines company was alloted 37 hectares of manganese belt in Reduleka area of Kenonjhar to extract minerals. The company, however, excavated minerals from its neighbouring plot owned by Ram Bahadur Thakur (RBT) company, according to the chargesheet.
The issue was raised in the assembly with opposition members demanding a statement from the Mines Minister on the file going missing.
