CBI raids properties of Congress leaders in connection with mining scam

Mangalore Today News Network

Karwar, Sept. 16, 2012: The involvement of Congress leaders in the iron ore mining scam, as revealed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids on the offices of stevedoring agents and mining companies in Yellapur, Karwar, and Belekeri in Uttara Kannada on September 15, Saturday, has been very embarrassing for the Congress Party, which has so far been accusing the BJP of looting the state of its natural resources.

The CBI raided the houses of Sathish Sail, owner of Mallikarjuna Shipping Company in Karwar and Belekeri, and Shivaram Hebbar, former director of Dream Logistic Company, in Yellapur, who are both Congress leaders. Shivaram Hebbar has already stated that his son Vivek Hebbar has taken over the company and that he is no longer on its board of directors.

While Hebbar had lost the last assembly election from Yellapur constituency to BJP candidate V. S. Patil, Sail had lost the by-election of the Karwar Assembly Constituency in 2010 to BJP candidate Anand Asnotikar.

The CBI raided the houses and offices of owners and directors of around 13 companies involved in exporting half (25 lakh tons) of illegally mined iron ore from Belekeri from 2009 to 2010.

The CBI has filed five first information reports (FIRs), putting a former Congress MLC and a JD(S) leader in trouble, say reliable sources. The unnamed JD(S) leader, who is aspiring for a ticket to the upcoming assembly polls, is the owner of a transport company, which has transported illegally mined iron ore from Bellary.

The CBI might also raid the house and office of a minister of this district because he was involved in the signing of an MoU with a company that was raided on Saturday. This company had begun illegally constructing a jetty in Belekeri Port and was stopped by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

A company belonging to former MLC Shubhalatha Asnotikar had given the subcontract of transporting iron ore to handling agents in Karwar Port and again to Karwar Port and Dock Workers’ Union, the president of which is Shubhalata Asnotikar.