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National

Mining firms worried over documents

Muralidhara Khajane

BANGALORE: Mining companies and political leaders in the State allegedly involved in illegal mining are growing anxious. Not only is the Lokayukta's final report to be submitted soon, but they are also worried about certain sealed documents submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to the Forest Bench of the Supreme Court.

Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) (an organisation of the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR)), which has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against illegal mining, is optimistic that the court will direct the CEC, or any other agency, to verify the authenticity of the politically sensitive documents when hearing commences on July 8.

While the CEC has not named politicians in its report, it has pointed indirectly at them. The committee has referred to the Prerana Trust, run by the Chief Minister's family members and the “alleged receipt of huge amounts as donations by a trust managed by close relatives of a senior political leader in the State from a business house and its business associated companies, and who is alleged to have received undue favours from a State government mining company”.

Speaking to The Hindu, chairman of NCPNR study team, Vishnu Kamath, said that the sealed cover also contains documents that point at the growing mining mafia in Bellary, the improper acts of a senior politician, duty and tax evasions by a mining company owned by a senior politician, and alleged illegal transfer of a mining company in favour of a senior political leader.

It is significant to note that the Obulapuram Mining Company — the Andhra Pradesh-based mining firm owned by Minister G. Janardhan Reddy — has been issued two notices by the Income Tax department.

‘No names'

The committee did not name the politicians, as it did not want to take risks regarding some of the facts it had not probed in depth. “So such details have not been made public but shared with the court in a sealed cover,” he said.

Mr. Kamath said the apex court had directed the authorities concerned to testify to the authenticity of the documents which related to evasion of income tax, excise duty, under invoicing, illegal transportation of oreby Jantakal Mining Company, Black Gold Mining Company, and violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999.

“Now the ball is in Supreme Court and we are eagerly awaiting its decision as the true nature of violations and plunder of exchequer and natural resources will see the light,” he said.

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