Ready to probe Orissa mining scam: CBI to court

Four months after a public interest litigation was filed in the Orissa High Court demanding a CBI probe into the multi-crore Orissa mining scam...

Four months after a public interest litigation was filed in the Orissa High Court demanding a CBI probe into the multi-crore Orissa mining scam,the investigating agency on Monday submitted to the court that it was ready to probe the scam if the state provided necessary logistical support.

CBI SP in Bhubaneswar M S Sundarrajan in his affidavit in the High Court said the agency has no objection to probe the scam after a direction from the court. The CBI affidavit was in response to a petition filed by one Pratap Chandra Rout demanding CBI probe into the scam. A CBI official said since the agency was a party to the case,it was mandatory on its part to submit an affidavit in this regard.

The Naveen Patnaik government is on defensive with a belligerent Opposition demanding CBI probe into the alleged over-exploitation of iron ore,manganese and other minerals by lease holders beyond the boundary of their demarcated area. The state Vigilance department is already probing the mining scam and has already lodged nine cases against several mine owners,forest officials and mines officials for their complicity in the scam. The Vigilance department now estimates the scam to be worth Rs 409 crore. However,the Opposition has been demanding a CBI probe saying the Vigilance probe cannot reach its logical conclusion as the agency was an instrument of the state.

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The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court which is probing into the cases of forest law violations in the mining scam last week slammed the Orissa government saying the mining scam was a can of worms.

The CEC asked the state to file its reply by December 16 with details of the total forest area within the mining lease granted by the state,the extent of area where the mining operations are going illegally without prior approval of union ministry of forest and environment in the forest areas.

Day after PM Modi’s visit to the town, Manipur’s Churachandpur sees violent protest

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Protests in Manipur's Churachandpur turned violent as two men were arrested for damaging decorations for PM Modi's visit. The crowd demanded their release and attempted to storm the police station. The men were eventually released after a bail hearing. The incident occurred after a clash between locals and police on Thursday, but the situation had calmed down before Saturday's visit.

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