Banglore: Intensifying its probe into illegal iron ore export scam,a 10-member team of CBI officials yesterday began grilling several persons from mining firms and transport companies in connection with the case. The members also visited stockyards and mining areas in the mine-rich Bellary district, officials said.
The team would stay here for some days for its probe into the illegal export of iron ore from Belikeri port in Karnataka from 2006-07 to 2010-11, they said.
Illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port in Uttara Kannada district was exposed by former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde, who in his report, had said that 7.74 million tonnes of iron ore were illegally exported between 2006-2007 and 2010-11, causing huge loss to the exchequer.
CBI has arrested four MLAs—Anand Singh (BJP), B Nagendra and Satish Sail, both independents and Suresh Babu of BSR Congress headed by former minister B Sriramulu, a close aide of mining baron and former minister Janardhana Reddy, in connection with the scam.
