Click to play videoKeonjhar (Orissa): A day after CNN-IBN exposed the Rs 3 lakh crore Orissa mining scam, new investigations reveal the kingpin of the scam and his political connections. B Pravakaran, Managing Director of Triveni Earth Movers, is alleged to be mastermind of the Orissa mining scam.
The Orissa Vigilance Department says that there are allegations that Pravakaran has taken illegal control over 10 major iron ore mines in Orissa in the last eight years, most of them facing charges of illegal mining running into thousands of crores.
These include the Sirajuddin and Indrani Patnaik mines where CNN-IBN has already exposed illegal mining. But Pravakaran remains untouched because of his unique modus operandi.
While Triveni actually operates these mines, the official records stay in the name of the original owner. It is alleged that Pravakaran uses his clout in the Naveen Patnaik government to force the original mine owners into unofficial agreements to operate their mines, and claim a major share of the loot.
"The allegation is that Triveni is the major partner and the actual mine owner is the silent partner. The official records show that all mining activity is done in the name of the owner but actually it was Triveni which was doing it. However, we have found some evidence that Triveni earth movers are involved in some illegal work in which they have been charge sheeted," said Anup Patnaik, Director, Vigilance, Orissa.
But before Pravakaran could be arrested, he was granted anticipatory bail by the Orissa High Court, sparking allegations that the Vigilance Department was under pressure to build a weak case against him, despite the fact that Triveni Earth movers was in violation of the law which says Mine Owners cannot assign, sub let or transfer their mining lease.
Eight MLAs cutting across party lines had written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in August to take action against Pravakaran's Triveni Earth Movers, but no action was taken.
"I have been insisting this in the floor of the House that how the gratification from the illegal mining is used by the ruling party to win elections and also in the horse trading during last Rajya sabha election in the state," said Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, BJP Legislative party leader.
However the BJD has refuted the allegations as politically motivated.
"If the committee finds that there was financial transaction between the lessee and the contractor, we will definitely take action against the contractor," said Orissa's Steel and Minies Minister Raghunath Mohanty.
When CNN-IBN approached Pravakaran, he refused to speak on camera.
In last two years the state vigilance has arrested 13 people and the Keonjhar police has arrested 300 in the mining scam, but all arrested are mostly foot soldiers of the mine owners and lower and middle ranked government officials. Till now not a single big fish has been arrested so far in this huge scam.
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