The Karnataka Government has issued an order for conducting a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into illegal export of iron ore from nine ports, including Karnataka.
The CBI would conduct the probe into export of iron ore from Karwar, New Mangalore Port Trust, Mangalore, Krishna Pattanam, Kakinada, and Vishakapattanam, all in Andhra Pradesh, Ennore and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Panaji and Mormugoa in Goa.
The State Cabinet meeting held October 17, 2013 has decided to hand over probe into illegal export of iron ore to the CBI.
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The order said probe would determine the extent of illegal ore which has been exported, and to find out whether any criminal prosecution against any person or persons involved was necessary based on the findings of the Karnataka Lokayukta report chapters I, II and III and other relevant chapters of its second report submitted to the Government on July 27, 2011.
The CBI has already been probing Belikere missing iron ore case.
Former Karnataka Lokayutka Santosh Hegde’s final report estimated the loss of revenue to the State exchequer due to illegal mining in the State between 2006 and 2010 at more than Rs 16,000 crore.
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The report had also named 797 officials. Following his indictment in the report, the then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had to resign following the direction of the BJP’s central leadership.