Keonjhar: The District Magistrate (DM) court here Saturday asked nine mine leaseholders to pay their penalties within seven days. Some were given two weeks to pay their fines. The court also ordered if they do not pay the fines, their assets will be auctioned.
Tehsildars were asked to issue warrants of sale regarding the properties of the defaulting miners if they do not pay their fines before the deadline.
Reports said the representatives of leaseholders Malarya, BPME Ltd, MR Das, Mineral Trading Syndicate, SC Padhy, Mid East Integrated Steel Ltd (two mines) and SN Dasmohapatra deposed before the court. However, Bhanj Mineral Pvt Ltd was absent.
Malarya, BPME Ltd, Mineral Trading Syndicate and SC Padhy were granted 15-days, while MR Das, Mesco and SN Das Mohapatra were given seven days to clear their penalties.
If they fail to pay before the deadline, their properties will be sold to recover the penalty, the court added.
The Supreme Court had directed the state to recover penalties from the scam involved mine owners. The Justice MB Shah Commission had probed the multi-crore mining scam and submitted its report to court.
On the basis of the MB Shah Commission report, 100 per cent fine was imposed on the errant miners. In case of violation of the SC order, the miners will have to pay fine with interest.
The Collector had filed a certificate case against 24 leaseholders in the DM’s court. The DM court has been hearing the cases in a phased manner.
Some miners have deposited penalties while many others have not.
The Mines Department had moved the DM court for confiscation of their assets. The court had initially served notices on nine miners.
The first phase of the case’s hearing was held July 28, 2018. Considering the pleas of the mine leaseholders, the court held the next hearing September 1, 2018.
PNN
