CBI to prosecute Jhk IAS officer, 4 others in Usha Martin mining case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is believed to be planning to prosecute senior IAS officer Arun Kumar Singh along with then mines director Inderdee Paswan and three other private individuals in the illegal iron ore export case involving the Ranchi-based wire rope maker Usha Martin.

As per reports, the CBI has asked the Jharkhand government to give its comment to the central government's Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) when or if an opinion is sought. Singh, a 1988 batch IAS officer, is the Development Commissioner in Jharkhand. "As far as I am aware, the CBI has asked the state government to give its comment to the DOPT if any communication and consent is given regarding the said officer in this mining case," highly placed sources said.

“Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the DOPT is initiating the process of prosecuting the IAS officer as for Inderde Paswan, he has moved to the Bihar cadre after serving in Jharkhand for a while,” sources said. The CBI sent the request to the Jharkhand Chief Secretary's office about two weeks ago. 

Apart from these two officials, the CBI also wants to prosecute three top executives of Usha Martin. Briefly, said the company was favored in the award of an iron ore mine in 2005 at Ghatkuri in West Singhbhum district ahead of five other applications.

Arun Kumar Singh was the secretary of the mines department then an FIR was lodged in September 2016 at CBI Delhi Division No. 220/2016 under sections dealing with alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the promoters of Usha Martin, Director of Mines, Jharkhand Government, Inderdeo Paswan and others.

The state government allegedly favored Usha Martin in its recommendation to the Center for allotment of Vijaya II iron ore mines, as the company allegedly promised to use the ore at its steel plant in Adityapur. The CBI alleged that the company later reneged on the undertaking, taking advantage of the fact that the special reason was not specifically mentioned in the Cabinet note. The company exported a huge amount of iron ore mines instead of using it in its steel plant.