Facing charges of paying bribes and permitting illegal iron ore exports,Adani Enterprises (AEL) contested the Karnataka Lokayuta report saying linking its name to illegal mining is 'imaginary' and intended to defame it. AEL or any entity in the Adani Group did not own and does not own or operate any iron ore mine in Karnataka or any part of the country linking AEL's name to any illegal iron ore mining is purely imaginary and intended to defame our name and drag us into an avoidable controversy, it said. Any illegal gratifications or pay-offs cannot be attributed to AEL as it has been a mere port operator while cargo interest remained with either miners or other parties,the flagship firm of infrastructure conglomerate Adani Grop said. Asserting that AEL conducts its business within the framework of law and would defend its legal position vigorously,the firm said vested interests were circulating unauthenticated reports and levelling slanderous allegations. Charging AEL of paying bribes and permitting illegal iron ore exports through the Belekere port in Karnataka,the Lokayukta in its report said the company "should be black-listed and barred from participating in any future contract,grant or lease,etc by the Government." Action should be initiated against the company to cancel the lease granted at Belekeri port, it said. The report said that as per data seized from AEL,the average per truck load quantity received in Adani plots and Shree Mallikarjun plots in Belekeri port was 20.26 MT as against permitted load of 16 MT. The data pertains to 2,99,255 trips to Belekeri port between the period October 2009 to May 2010. The team has assessed that the total 2.986 crore MT of illicit iron ore that was transported to ports in excess of permitted quantity,significant quantity of illicit ore might have been transported through vehicles overloading, the report said. AEL in its clarification said it was one of the four parties providing services as a port operator at Belekari and its role was limited to receiving the cargo within the port and to keep the stocks while waiting for the arrival of ship and loading the cargo under customs supervision. Shares of Adani Enterprises nosedived by 22.73 per cent to a one-month low of Rs 573 on the BSE yesterday during intra-day trade.
