One held in disappearing iron ore from Belekeri port

The investigations in the missing iron ore scam in Belekeri port has of Karnataka seems to be making headway, as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed the first charge-sheet in the case and arrested suspended Belekeri port conservator Mahesh Biliye.

Police said Biliye is alleged to have helped companies to steal the seized iron ore and further export it to China.

The official was produced before the judicial magistrate first court (JMFC) of Ankola, Karwar, on Thursday. The court declined to give him bail and remanded him in CID custody till 4 September. Biliya's bail application will be taken up by the court on Monday.

The has zeroed in on 45 mining companies allegedly involved in the missing iron ore case. Deputy Superintendent of Police B S Muddu Mahadevaiah submitted a preliminary report on the case to the JMFC while the seeking more time for the detailed report.

Appearing in the Karnataka high court circuit bench in Dharwad, DGP (CID) D V Guruprasad explained the steps taken by the CID in the case. Meanwhile, Mahadevaiah, who is camping in the area, visited Ankola police station seeking reports filed by the mining and geology and forest departments.

In the reports given to the DSP by the Ankola police, it has been noted that the forest department had confiscated five lakh metric tonnes of grade 65 ore from 11 companies worth Rs150 crore on 2 March in the port. This stockpile was also sealed by the forest department pending Lokayukta investigation.