The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Bangalore, which registered a case as per the orders of the State government dated November 18, 2013 to inquire into the illegal extraction/transportation and export of iron ore, has commenced its investigation.
Seven portsIt began issuing notices this week to several firms that exported iron ore extracted in Karnataka through the following seven ports:
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Karwar, Mangalore in Karnataka; Chennai and Ennore in Tamil Nadu, and Vishakapattanam, Krishnapattanam and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, according to sources.
The CBI has sought details from the firms, with documents pertaining to extraction/transportation and export between April 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010.
The firms have also been asked to depute a competent person, conversant with the activities and transactions, to appear before the CBI, along with the details sought in the prescribed proforma on August 14, 2014.
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The details sought include details of the directors, complete profile of the company, memorandum and articles of association, procurement of ore from suppliers, quantity, export details, bills, invoices, phone numbers and contact persons, details of permits issued by Department of Mines and Geology for transportation and copies of the permits in case of exports, details of custom/cess paid, bank statements, details of stockyards held and of the stocks held between 2006 and 2010.
It may be mentioned here that the State government had ordered a CBI probe into the illegal export of iron ore from various ports, based on the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted by N. Santosh Hegde, apprehending huge loss of revenue to the State exchequer.