Illegal mining: ED conducts raids in Odisha

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at 10 places in Odisha in connection with illegal mining in the state.

ED sources from Kolkata confirmed that the search operations with the assistance of police were conducted at 10 locations, including Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.

The ED raided three mining companies Sirajuddin and Co, Indrani Patnaik and company and Triveni Earthmovers and a transport company Maa Kuanri with which Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud is associated.

The raids were conducted on an FIR registered by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of the Shah Commission report.

The commission, led by Justice M.B. Shah, was probing the multi-thousand crore illegal mining scam in Odisha and found glaring violations of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) MMDR Act.

The state vigilance department had also filed criminal complaints in 2012 against the mining companies and had filed charge sheets against them.

The agency also conducted simultaneous raids in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. - IANS