Babubhai Bokhiria arrested in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Nov 14: Porbander city BJP president Babubhai Bokhiria, who is the prime accused in the Rs 54-crore illegal mining case, was today arrested from the airport here upon his arrival from London.

Bagavdar police inspector Hardevsinh Waghela arrested Bokhiria immediately after his Jet Airways flight landed at the International airport.

Bokhiria's anticipatory bail application had earlier been rejected by the Porbandar sessions court, the Gujarat High Court and also by the Supreme Court.

An industrial unit, Saurashtra Chemicals, had filed a complaint in October 2006, accusing Babubhai Bokhiria, Bhima Odedara and his son Laxman, and former Congress MP Bharat Odedara, of carrying out illegal mining. Bhima and Laxman Odedara were arrested in November last year. Following intervention by the High Court, Bharat Odedara was arrested in September, this year.

According to the Mines and Minerals Department estimates, the illegal mining could run to the tune of Rs 200 crore.

UNI