The Special Vigilance court here on Saturday rejected the bail plea of suspended Joda Circle Deputy Director of Mines (DDM) Manas Ranjan Mohanty.
On Friday, the court had completed its hearing on Mohanty’s bail plea and kept the verdict reserved for Saturday.
Mohanty was arrested by the State Vigilance Cell for allowing extraction of huge quantities of iron ore illegally beyond the mining lease area of Uliburu reserve forest in Keonjhar district.
Mohanty was arrested by the Vigilance on June 27 in Bhubaneswar after absconding for nearly a year.
The Special Vigilance Court of Keonjhar had declared five suspended officials of Mines department, including Mohanty, as absconders. The Vigilance department has already filed chargesheets against 29 persons, including prime accused Deepak Gupta, in the Special Vigilance Court in connection with the scam. Gupta, who was operating the Uliburu iron ore mine, has been accused of violating forest and mining laws.