Shah panel not to submit preliminary report

Bhubaneswar: Illegal mining enquiry agency M B Shah Commission would not submit the preliminary report on their investigation of alleged mining scam in the state as it is yet to complete the review of documents of 142 companies it had sought before its visit.

During its 9-day long visit, the 6-memebr panel had targetted to review files of 142 companies. However, the team has so far scrutinised records of some 70 mines, sources said.

“We cannot give a preliminary report at this stage,” said UV Singh, head of the probe panel adding if required the panel might visit the state for a third time. Earlier the commission had visited the state in December 2011.

The commission is scheduled to meet chief secretary B K Patnaik today.