Keonjhar: Deepak Gupta, the prime accused in the multi-thousand crore Uliburu mining scam has appeared before the Special Vigilance Court in Keonjhar today. The court is likely to frame charges against Deepak.
All the people out on bail among the 29 accused in the case have also been instructed to depose before the court. But due to the absence of the judge, the charges could not be framed today.
It may be mentioned that Deepak had been arrested by State Vigilance sleuths on September 4, 2013 for his alleged involvement in the Rs 1,800 crore mining scam at Uliburu in Keonjhar district. Chargesheet had been filed against 29 persons out of whom nine persons, including the family members of Deepak had managed to obtain advance bail from Odisha High Court.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the money trail in the scam, had also attached property to the tune of about Rs 379 crore, owned by Deepak, in May 2015.
Deepak was the power of attorney of an iron ore mine, lease of which was with B K Mohanty. He illegally extracted iron ores beyond the permissible limit prescribed by the Government and gained around Rs 1,400 crore causing a huge loss to the State exchequer.