The high court circuit bench (Dharwad) granted bail to three executives of mining companies on Tuesday. A single judge bench headed by justice L Narayan Swamy heard the applications of Samuel David, vice president, and H G Venkatesh, general manager, of the Adani Mining Company, and Amar of Doddannavar Brothers of Belgaum were granted bail.
The judge also granted bail to port conservator of Belekeri Port in Karwar Mahesh Bilige.
The applicants had sought anticipatory bail fearing arrest after the Lok Ayukta police filed a complaint against 11 mining companies in connection with iron ore missing from the Belekeri Port in Karwar.
It may be recalled here that during the first week of September this year, the CID had arrested Port Conservator Mahesh Bilige who was in charge of the Belekeri Port and presented him before the judicial magistrate first class court in Ankola.
The court had remanded him to CID custody for two days.
Mahesh Bilige faces the charge of having failed to protect the iron ore that had been seized by the forest officials.
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The CID has already filed the first chargesheet against three companies-ILC Exports, Satya Granites and SB Logistics.
According to additional director general of police D V Guruprasad, “There are 58 companies/individuals who are accused in the case and CID needs time to investigate the role of each accused in exporting the iron ore illegally.”
According to investigations by the CID, 465,078 tonnes of iron ore is missing from the Belekeri Port and has been exported illegally between March and June 2010. Further investigations will reveal more details about the destination and quantity of iron ore exported.”