Karnataka court permits CID to search mining firms

In a move that could throw more light on rampant illegal mining in the state, the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ankola has permitted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to search the offices of 32 mining firms in Ankola, Bangalore, Bellary, Hospet and Sandur.

The CID had applied for permission to search the premises of these mining companies. An application to this effect had been moved by the CID deputy superintendent of police, Muddu Mahadevaiah, last week.

Speaking to DNA, Mahadevaiah said that the order could open new avenues for the CID to unearth new details of the multi-crore mining scam.

“If the skeletons don’t tumble out themselves, we will bring them out,” he asserted.

Sources in the Belekeri port told DNA that when the forest officials seized the stockpile, there were 24 mounds of ore in the port. However, seven mounds of 65 grade ore (high quality) mysteriously vanished later and these mounds were quickly replaced by low quality ore before the port was closed.

Umesh Nayak, a senior advocate in Ankola, told DNA that only the CID could decide on the names of the companies that would receive the search warrants.

In another blow to the mining companies, the court has rejected applications for anticipatory bail from six executives of various mining companies operating in Belekeri port.

The six officials, who were chargesheeted by the CID, had been given interim anticipatory bail by the circuit bench of the high court in Dharwad. More rejections of applications from company executives for anticipatory bail are likely. A month back, the CID had listed 45 companies that ran illegal business in Belikeri port.