The Vigilance wing of the State police on Monday conducted raids at several places across the State in connection with the Uliburu mining scam and registered criminal cases against 18 people including Deepak Gupta, the power of attorney holder of BK Mohanty iron ore mines.
Ten teams of vigilance officials raided residences of Mohanty, residence and office establishments of Gupta and office and residences of government officials at Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Jasipur and Athagarh.
“We have conducted raids at 10 places and detained BK Mohanty, the mine leaseholder for further investigation,” said Sashi Bhushan Mishra, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Department.Officials also raided the residence of suspended deputy director of Mines Manas Mohanty and Joda mining officer Sharat Chandra Sahu.Another vigilance team searched Athagarh residence of former forestor of Keonjhar Dilip Beura, suspended mining inspector Routray Murmu and former Joda DDM Madanmohan Biswal.Earlier this month, Vigilance officials raided five government and private offices at Keonjhar and Bhubanswar.
Ever since Vigilance wing started investigation into the scam, Government has suspended 14 officials, seven each from Steel and Mines Department and Forest Department.