CBI today carried out searches at 24 locations in 10 cities across the country in a bid to apprehend suppliers and transporters involved in 21 lakh tonnes of illegal export of iron ore from a Karnataka port.
"Searches were conducted at 18 premises in Karnataka, two premises in Tamil Nadu and one each in Maharashtra, Goa, Haryana and West Bengal at the official and residential premises of the accused, CBI spokesperson said here.
CBI sources said searches took place in Bengaluru, Bellary, Hospet, Sandur, Goa, Salem, Kolkata, Mumbai, Gurgaon and Belgaum in connection with the case.
The official said searches so far have led to the recovery of 270 documents, three hard disks indicating the suppliers, transporters and stockists of illegally-mined iron ore besides statement of aank accounts of accused persons and FDRs to the tune of Rs 1.64 crores.
The agency has registered 22 cases in connection with illegal exports from Belakiri port in October-November 2013 on the directions of the Supreme Court for alleged illegal mining of iron ore, without permit, including such mining in forest land in Bellary district of Karnataka, and connected trading and export of iron ore.
"In the 22 FIRs, 15 companies, 6 partnership firms and 2 proprietory concerns are under investigation...50 individuals have been identified in the FIRs connected to this probe other than public servants of Mines and Geology Department, Forest Department and others who would be identified only during investigation," CBI had said in a statement.
The agency had registered cases under IPC sections related to cheating, forgery among others, provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and violation of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Section 24 of Karnataka Forest Act, 1963.
