Port officer indicted for illegal ore export

The theft of the seized ore has caused a loss of Rs 44.31 crore to the exchequer.

The CID filed its first charge  sheet in the Belekeri iron ore theft case on December 24 in an Ankola court. The charge sheet is only against Salagaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd and its sister companies. The investigation agency will be soon filing charge sheets against three more companies.

Salagaonkar is a Goa-based firm owned by Independent MLA Anil Salagaocar. The CID stated that Mahesh Biliye had been entrusted by the Ankola court with the custody of the seized iron ore. He allegedly conspired with the export companies and also Salaganokar Mining, the stevedore, and helped them in the illegal export of the seized ore.