CBI probe sought into 'scam' at Mysore Minerals

The National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (Samaja Parivartana Samaja) has sought a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in Mysore Minerals Limited (MML).

“The State government, which announced a CBI inquiry into ore export scam has left MML from the ambit of investigation. The firm is involved in large-scale irregularities,” Hiremath, the founder president of the Committee said on Friday.

 He said the Comptroller and Auditor General in his reports in 2004 and 2012 had pointed out to irregularities in MML. The Karnataka Lokayukta, in its report on illegal mining has named six high ranking officials — Umesh, I R Perumal, Mahendra Jain, D S Ashwath, K S Manjunath and Jija Harisingh - who held the post of manging director of MML. The  names of MML officials such as H Srinivas, Gangaram Baderiya, Dr Basappa Reddy, R Ramappa and Sharkarlingaiah also figure in the Lokayukta report.

“They have caused more than Rs 800 crore loss to the exchequer,” Hiremath claimed, adding that the government should not spare elected representatives and officials who plundered high quality ore causing huge loss to government.