The Special Vigilance Court, Keonjhar has granted time to two former Deputy Directors of Mines (DDMs), Manas Mohanty and Purna Chandra Patra, accused in the multi-crore Ulliburu mining scam till September 22 to surrender before it.
Six Government officials, including the two DDMs, have been absconding since Vigilance police filed a case in the court against them two years ago. The court had passed an order to attach the property of these absconding officials if they failed to surrender before the court by September 11.
Meanwhile, the two DDMs through their advocate made an appeal to the court seeking time till September 22 to surrender which the court has considered.
Though another accused former Barbil Forest range officer Sirish Chandra Mohanty had appealed to appear before the court through his advocate, the latter has reportedly rejected his appeal. The court is yet to pass any further order against him and former mining officials Routray Murmu and Ramesh Mahallik, who have been suspended from their service.
Main accused Deepak Gupta and lessee BK Mohanty have already been arrested and court-forwarded in this case.