BJP leader Babu Bokhiria declared absconder in illegal mining case

Porbandar, Oct 18 (UNI) Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Porbandar city President Babu Bokhiria, an accused in the Rs 54 crore minerals theft case, has been declared an absconder by a sessions court here.

Earlier, the anticipatory bail application of the accused was rejected and court declared him an absconder.

Police have now filed an application seeking permission to seize his property.

A complaint of illegal mining was filed by Saurashtra Chemicals in October 2006 against four persons -- Babu Bokhiria, Bhima Odedara and his son Laxman and former Congress MP Bharat Odedara.

Bhima and Laxman Odedara were arrested in November last year, but police had not arrested Bharat Odedara and Babu Bokhiria.

After the intervention of the High Court, police arrested Bharat Odedara last month. Babu Bokhiria is presently in UK.

The High Court had intervened on a petition filed by Bhagu Devani, President of Porbandar Hitrakshak Samiti, alleging that police was dithering to arrest Bharat Odedara and Babu Bokhiria after the exposure of 54 crore mineral theft.

UNI