Five senior mining officials allegedly involved in Uliburu mining scam in Odisha were declared absconders by a special vigilance court here.
The court of Manas Ranjan Barik, while declaring the five officials absconders yesterday, directed them to appear before it by September 11, failing which the process for confiscation of their property would be initiated.
Following reports of alleged scam to the tune of Rs 800 crore in Uliburu mines, different agencies including Justice MB Shah Commission and Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee had probed the matter.
The vigilance department had chargesheeted 29 persons including Dipak Gupta and five officials, vigilance advocate Debadutta Biswal said, adding the court had declared the five absconders and the case was still continuing.
Gupta, who had obtained a power of attorney from the lease holder B K Mohanty, is now in jail but the five officials were at large, Biswal said.
Those declared absconders are former deputy director of mines, Joda, Manas Ranjan Mohanty, Purnachandra Patra, mining officer Routray Murmu, Ramesh Chandra Mahalik and Sisir Chandra Mohanty, he said.
