Ballari: Sleuths of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chennai branch on Wednesday arrested Ballari City Congress MLA Anil H. Lad in connection with the export of illicit iron ore from Belekeri port in Karwar.
Mr Lad, proprietor of iron ore export firm-VSL Mining Pvt Ltd is the first Congress party legislator arrested by the CBI in an illegal mining case.
According to sources, EOW sleuths headed by superintendent of police P.C. Thenmozhi, on Wednesday afternoon summoned Mr Lad to the CBI office in Bengaluru for interrogation and after the enquiry, he was arrested and will be produced before the CBI special court on Thursday.
Based on the recommendations of the Supreme Court constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC)’s report, the apex court had entrusted EOW of the CBI, Chennai the task of probing 22 ore export firms which prima facie were found to have exported more than 50,000 metric tones of illicit ore from Belekeri port during January 2008 to May 2010.
Mr Lad owned VSL Mining Pvt Ltd is one among the 22 firms named by the CEC which was primarily found to have exported more than 51,000 metric tons ore from Belekeri port.
During the CBI probe, according to reliable sources, Veeyam Mines operator Mr Jaheed is said to have purchased 15,000 metric tones ore from VSL Mining Pvt Ltd without valid mines and forest permits and supplied this illicit ore to ore exporter M/s Mallikarjun Shipping Company Pvt Ltd owned by Karwar independent MLA Mr Satish Sail.
Sources said that Mr Jaheed has confessed to purchasing illicit ore from a firm owned by Mr Lad and had made payment for this illicit ore.
Earlier, in June, EOW sleuths had arrested Kudligi independent MLA B Nagendra in connection with the scam. The EOW sleuths are investigating 22 cases of illicit iron ore export of above 50,000 metric tones and more arrests are expected, according to sources.
