RailEnquiry

JAMSHEDPUR: A 15-member CBI team from Kolkata visited the mineral-rich West Singhbhum district on Thursday to conduct raids at railway sidings in connection with the Rs 5000 crore iron ore scam.The team that reached the district in the morning conducted raids at railway sidings in Kiriburu, Noamundi, Gua, Badajamd and Chakradharpur under the Chakradharpur division of the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone. According to information, the probe team conducted thorough search operation of the documents of the companies involved in the scam."The team searched for important documents and also inquired about other documents at the railway sidings," said A K Haldar, senior railway divisional officer deputed by the railways to assist the CBI.The search operation, third one in the past 10 months, was made in connection with the five-year old scam wherein railway racks meant for 32 domestic iron ore supplying companies were overloaded in connivance with the railway officials, and dispatched to Paradip Port in Odisha from where the ore was illegally exported.The probe team is likely to stay in West Singhbhum for two days to conduct search operation and question railway officials and executives of the 10 iron ore exporting companies accused in the fraud.

The investigation began sometime last year.

During the initial investigation, it was found that the companies duped railways to the tune of Rs 5000 cr by transporting iron ore meant for export at domestic freighcharges.According to the sources, the entire scam began sometime in the middle of 2008, when railways decided to charge a higher freight rate for exports in the wake of the huge surge in iron ore exports, especially to China.

"It's a multi-disciplinary probe to detect the fraud by several mining companies that showed transport of iron ore meant for exports through railways as movement for domestic consumption," said a railway official.

Apart from the CBI, railways, customs and excise are also involved in the multi-agency investigation into the scam. "I am not supposed to divulge the findings of the day-long search operation," said Haldar. He a;sso refused to divulge the details of who is heading the 15-member CBI team.