Mining scam unearthed in Pinjore, probe on

The police here have unearthed a mining scam at the construction site of a major realty firm in Sector 3 of the Kalka-Pinjore Urban Complex, and registered a case of cheating and forgery against a contractor, M/s Brij Mohan Aggarwal, for extracting material in excess of that permitted under their licence.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Sandeep Malik had conducted the investigation after an anonymous complaint. The probe found that the firm engaged in work at the DLF site had taken permit for disposal of mineral extracted for development activities from the mining officer of Panchkula on July 24. The permission was for 7,524 MT (metric tonnes) of stone, 5,016 MT of gravel and ordinary clay 12,540 MT. This permission for total 25,080 MT was valid from July 25 to September 4. The firm got another permit from August 23 to October 22 for removal of 15,000 MT of stone, 1,000 MT of gravel and 25,000 MT of clay, that is total 50,000 MT.

Vijay Aggarwal, who runs the business, told the police that the first permit expired on August 22 as they had already exhausted the limit of 25,080 MT.

INQUIRY FINDINGS

But as per the police inquiry, transit permits for August 23 to August 31 show that the total quantity excavated as per the daily rate was 64,250 MT from July 25 to August 22, which was more than the double the permitted limit. The total number of mineral transit passes issued on August 30 were 141, while the outgate register showed the number of vehicles as 146. Similarly, the number of transit passes issued for August 31 was 99, while the outgate register showed 102 entries. It was also found that there was no weighing scale nearby to measure the exact quantity of material being removed. Thus, passing of some vehicles through the outgate without transit pass cannot be ruled out.

The police inquiry says this loot is not possible without the connivance of mining officials who should be the watchdog and keep a daily track of quantity being removed. This has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer to the tune of lakhs, and M/s Aggarwal, in connivance with the mining officials, have gained wrongfully, says the probe.

District mining officer Gurjeet Singh could not be reached despite repeated attempts on his mobile phone.

Regarding a DLF official Manpreet, in the inquiry report it is mentioned that he had the outgate register and promised to produce it before the police, but he later said he did not have the register.

Interestingly, further inquiry has been given out of district, to Naraingarh ACP Suresh Kaushik, “for a free and fair investigation,” said commissioner of police Rajbir Deswal.
When contacted, Kaushik said he was yet to look into the case.