The bail petition of Uliburu mines lease holder Bijoy Kishore Mohanty was rejected by the Special Vigilance Judge of Keonjhar Balakrushna Mohapatra on Tuesday.
A special cell of the State Vigilance had arrested Mohanty from his Bhubaneswar-based residence and produced him in the Keonjhar Vigilance court. He is accused of being involved in illegal mining to the tune of over `839 crore from Ulliburu iron ore mines in Keonjhar district.
“Mohanty’s bail petition was rejected by the special vigilance judge Balakrushna Mohapatra,” government pleader Debadutta Biswal told reporters.
Mohanty, who has been sent to judicial custody till August 12, however, claimed that he was in no way involved in the illegal mining.
The DSP of special Vigilance cell Sanjay Kumar
Das said 17 others are also involved in the mining scam.
“Mohanty was arrested following a series of raids on his house in Bhubneswar and at other places. We arrested him after getting prima facie evidence against the mine lease holder,” he said.
The sleuths had also reportedly seized some incriminating documents related to mines from Mohanty’s possession.
Mohanty had given the power of attorney to Deepak Gupta, the director of the Snehapuspa Marketing Pvt Limited, the DSP added.
The Vigilance team had earlier raided the offices of Deepak Gupta, who is considered as the main player in the illegalities, and the deputy director of mines, Joda, in Keonjhar.