CBI nets 3 mines officials

CBI nets 3 mines officials

Even as the mining scam keeps unfolding, the CBI on Saturday arrested three senior officers - two from Indian Bureau of Mines and a third from Central Mining Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) - on the charge of bribery while they were on an inspection tour at a coal mine in Talcher.

In a pre-dawn swoop, the CBI officials nabbed R K Pati, M B Nighot and S B Rinky and seized Rs 4.33 lakh from them.

Pati is with CMPDI, Bhubaneswar while the other two belong to Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur.

According to CBI sources, the officials were appointed by Coal India Limited to measure coal stock at pit heads of Talcher mines. The three were stationed here for about a month and supposed to leave shortly. The CBI was tipped off about the three officials demanding illegal gratification from the coal officers to report stock measurement perfectly. The CBI sleuths kept a watch on them for some days before arresting them.

The six-member CBI team, led by P K Panighahi, also raided MCL guest house, where the mining officials had been putting up, and seized Rs 4.33 lakh. A mobile handset and many documents also were seized. The three were arrested after interrogation and brought to Bhubaneswar CBI court. The CBI said it is also investigating the involvement of MCL officials in the case.