Odishatv Bureau
Keonjhar: A special vigilance court here on Tuesday rejected the bail application of lease holder BK Mohanty, who was arrested by vigilance sleuths earlier the day from Cuttack on charges of Rs 1800 crore mining scam in Uliburu mines in Joda circle of Keonjhar district.
 
Mohanty was produced before the court, which set aside the bail plea of Mohanty and sent to 14-day judicial custody, sources said. 
 
On Monday, the investigating officials raided at 10 different places in Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in connection with the multi-crore scam and had detained Mohanty for further interrogation. The sleuths had also reportedly seized some incriminating documents related to mines from Mohanty’s possession.
 
Besides, the team had also launched search operations simultaneously at the residences of some government officials and others involved in the scam in different places in Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Rourkela. 
 
The search operation did not yield much in case of Dipak Gupta, who allegedly raised iron ore under the authority of a power of attorney obtained from B K Mohanty, as his house was found locked. Vigilance department filed cases against him and his family members including wife Nitu Gupta, father Haricharan Gupta, mother Santa Devi and brother Champak Gupta.
 
Mohanty, who has 35 hectare iron ore lease at Uliburu in Joda mineral circle, is accused of illegally raising and exporting iron ore worth Rs 1,800 crore, before the irregularities came to fore. The miner is said to have excavated huge amount of iron ore beyond his approved lease area.
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