Deepak Gupta on police remand till Sep 11

OST Bureau

Keonjhar, Sep 6:

The Special Vigilance Court judge Balakrishna Mohapatra on Thursday allowed the vigilance department to take Deepak Gupta, prime accused in the Rs 1,800-crore illegal mining in Uliburu in Keonhar district, on remand till September 11 for more interrogation.

The anti-corruption wing had filed an application before the Special Vigilance Court seeking 15-day remand for Deepak Gupta.

The court also granted the vigilance request to allow bringing Deepak Steel and Snehapuspa Company, both owned by Gupta, under the purview of its investigation since there was evidence of a link between the Uliburu mining scam and these companies.

After arresting Gupta on Wednesday, the State Vigilance produced him before the court on Thursday.

Although the Vigilance has booked 18 accused, only the lessee, BK Mohanty, has been arrested earlier. Mohanty was released on bail recently while the family members of Gupta, including his father Haricharan, mother Kanta Devi and wife Nitu, have already obtained a court order preventing the police from arresting them till September 11.

Of the 11 accused still at large, Manas Mohanty, deputy director of mines, has been placed under suspension.