SIT searches offices of ore export firms in Bellary

The Special Investigation Team, constituted by the government, following the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, on Tuesday searched the offices of some of the ore export companies in Hospet and Sandur and seized documents. 

The staff of the SIT are camping for the last four days at its office in the city set up by the Lokayukta. 

Companies involved in mining have been issued notices, asking them to submit relevant documents. Five probe teams have been formed and if necessary, those from mining, transport and export companies, besides officials will be questioned.The investigation team has been told to submit details like sale of ore, extent of mining, transport and export of ore and details of the permits issued by the authorities to the office in Bangalore.

Some of those facing the probe were summoned to the office so as to gather information from them. 

Some of them were asked to provide the necessary documents. The team members, on Tuesday, visited Doddappa Traders in Sandur, Sameer Traders, Terapanth Traders and Balaji Traders in Hospet and seized documents, Manjunath Annigeri, the Lokayukta Superintendent of Police, told Deccan Herald.

FIR prepared

The First Information Report has already been prepared. Searches were conducted and documents seized as per the directions of the Lokayukta court. The next step will be a visit to the mining areas.  

A team led by the additional SP of the economic offences wing of the CBI is also camping in the town for the last one week and has intensified the probe against 22 companies that have exported more than 50,000 tonnes of ore. Officials of the CBI and the Indian Bureau of Mines, who have arrived from Chennai, are questioning a few of the officials.