More skeletons keep tumbling out of the cupboard of the Rs 1,800-crore Uliburu mining scam with the State Government taking disciplinary action against three more forest officials, including two Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, for their alleged complicity in the mining loot.
The IFS officials who on Tuesday faced suspension are Pradeep Raj Karat and Sarat Kumar Mohanty. Besides, Kartikeswar Mohanty, currently working as ACF, Bhanjanagar Division, was also placed under suspension.
With this, the number of officials, from both Steel and Mines and Forest Departments, against whom action has been initiated, reached 18. Earlier, the Government had decided to take action against 14 officials, seven each from both the departments.
Officials said Karat, who is currently posted as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), was working as the DFO in Keonjhar district during 2006-2009, the period of the mine loot. Similarly Mohanty, present Deputy Coordinator with the World Food Programme had served as DFO, Keonjhar during that time. ACF Mohanty was working as a Range Officer in the Joda circle (Keonjhar), where the scam was reported.
Besides, the Government has also directed the Forest Department to initiate departmental proceedings against Range Officer Dillip Beura, who is already placed under suspension in a separate case.
Meanwhile, the vigilance wing of State police, have arrested original lease holder of Uliburu iron ore mines BK Mohanty in connection with the multi-crore scam and registered criminal cases against 18 persons including the mines attorney holder Deepak Gupta.
However, the prime accused, Gupta and four of his family members who are on the run after the scam surfaced have been declared by the court as proclaimed offenders.
It may be noted that BK Mohanty had transferred the ownership of the lease to Deepak Gupta, managing director of Deepak Steel and Power, via power of attorney.
Investigations revealed that iron ore was unlawfully extracted outside the original lease area in six hectares of Reserve Forest and 29 hectares of revenue forest which is in possession of the Revenue Department.