The court also directed the agency to register an FIR and investigate as to how around 8 lakh MT iron ore seized by the forest department were allowed to be exported to various foreign companies from the Belekeri port, allegedly by four Port Service Providers (stevedores) -- Adani Enterprises Ltd, Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt Ltd, Salgaoncar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd and Rajmahal Silks.
It also questioned the Karnataka Government as to how its law enforcing agencies, particulary the CB-CID, were unaware of the illegal mining on such a huge scale in its own forest reserves and the transportation of minerals to the Belekeri port by using around five lakh trucks over a period of 17 months.
A special forest bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam directed the CBI to lodge FIR and investigate "thoroughly" and "comprehensively" the illegality involved in the extraction of iron ore from Karnataka forest and their transportation to Belekeri port from where it was exported to foreign companies during the period of Janaury 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010.
It also asked the CBI to conduct preliminary inquiry on the basis of the two reports of the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which recommended indepth investigation of the entire matter and submit its report within six weeks.
Further, the bench said no other court in the country will entertain any plea relating to the case.
During the hearing, the bench, also comprising justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, said "CBI can also take custodial interrogation." (MORE)