The State Forest Department on Friday initiated departmental proceedings against seven of its officials on the charges of their involvement in the alleged Rs 1,800 crore Uliburu mining loot in Keonjhar district.
According to sources, the officials to whom suspension orders have been issued are forester Ravindra Mohanty, forest guards Bhagirathi Mishra, Mathuri Swain and Jaykrushna Das. The three others, forester Jagannath Mishra, forest guard Jagabandhu Mohanta, and Dasaratha Mohanta are retired officials of the department.
All these, sources added, were placed in the Uliburi region of Barbil range in Keonjhar forest circle during 2004-09 when the scam was reported. The move is believed to have been taken following the submission of Vigilance report.
With the fresh action from the Government, the number of officials facing disciplinary action for their alleged involvement in the multi-crore mining irregularities has increased to 14.