Charge sheets filed in 43 cases of illegal mining: Lokayukta

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed charge sheets in 43 mining cases, according to Lokayukta Justice (retd) Y Bhaskar Rao.

The SIT probe into illegal mining will go on for three more years. The SIT has interrogated more than 200 officials from various departments and is likely to arrest many mine owners, officials, exporters, etc. But those who have been interrogated have applied for anticipatory bail fearing arrest, Rao said at a press conference here on Thursday. The Lokayukta has appointed senior advocate Govindan to fight the legal battle, he added.

According to Rao, since investigation is going on, details of those involved, interrogated, arrested, nature of investigation and its present status cannot be disclosed. Two days ago, the SIT arrested a private contractor — one of the accused in the illegal mining case — at Mumbai airport when he was trying to flee abroad, he said.

Giving details of the Lokayukta’s performance in the last two years, Rao said the institution had received a total of 7,233 cases from across the State since February 2013, out of which 6,468 cases had been settled and 765 cases were pending. Rao said the State government had been instructed to take action against 170 officials for violating various rules. A total of 449 cases were registered against officials for demanding bribe.

In the last two years, the Lokayukta registered 182 cases against officials for amassing illegal wealth and raided their homes and offices. During the course, the Lokayukta unearthed Rs 284.65 crore worth of property, valuables, gold, silver and cash, besides registering 306 corruption cases, he said, adding that 31.10 per cent of the accused in corruption cases were convicted.