The Supreme Court has ordered a probe by the CBI against JSW Steel and two other companies for alleged involvement in illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka, media reports said on Friday.
Shares in JSW, India’s No 3 steelmaker, slid more than 8 percent after the reports.
Shares in JSW, India's No 3 steelmaker, slid more than 8 percent after the reports. Reuters
Earlier, a Supreme Court-appointed panel had recommended the court direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to look into linkages between donations made by JSW group firms and alleged receipt of illegal ore by JSW Steel.
“JSW follows the highest corporate governance and we haven’t done anything wrong. Our books are open and we will co-operate with the investigating agencies,” the company said in a statement.
BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has been accused of receiving money from JSW Steel, denotifying land in Bangalore and of receiving kickback of Rs 5 crore to issue mining licences in Chitradurga-Tumkur districts of Karnataka.
Production at JSW Steel’s main 10-million-tonnes a year Vijayanagar plant in Karnataka has been affected since last August after the Supreme Court put an interim ban on mining in the state citing illegalities in some mines.
Japan’s JFE Holdings holds a 15 percent stake in JSW Steel.
Reuters
