Mining officials on judicial remand

OST Bureau

Cuttack, Sep 13

Two mining officials arrested by the Vigilance department on Thursday were taken on judicial remand by the Keonjhar special vigilance court today.

The two mining officials Ramesh Chandra Mahalik, a former mining officer and Girish Chandra Bose, junior accountant of DDM office, Joda were arrested for their alleged show of undue favour by recommending and issuing transportation permits to M/s Rashmi Metaliks Ltd a Kolkata based firm for transportation of iron ore without it having a valid license.

Though the firm had no valid license for trading of iron ore during the period from August 10, 2008 to August 28, 2008, it was engaged in transportation of iron ore violating the Orissa Minerals (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling & Illegal Mining and Regulation of Possession, Storage, Trading and Transportation) Rules 2007. During the period the company made transaction of 33079.01 MT of iron ore illegally and thereby obtained pecuniary benefit of Rs 6,28,65,880, said a press note of the Vigilance department.

Meanwhile, a raid was conducted at the residence of Rashmi Metalliks MD Sanjay Patwari in Kolkata.

Earlier in March this year, in another case linked to Rashmi Metalliks, the Odisha Government had suspended Ballav Charan Nayak, DDM of Joda circle and Manas Mohanty, former DDM of Joda for their alleged involvement in regularising the already cancelled trading licence of the Kolkata-based firm.