Illegally stocked iron ore worth Rs 25 crore seized in Bellary

, Aug 16: Seventy thousand tonnes

worth Rs 25 crore allegedly stocked illegally in a village in

's Bellary district has been

by Mines and Geology Department officials.

Officials said they were in search for illegally stocked iron ore on the directives of Deputy Commissioner and found it in a sand covered pit at Siddapur village last evening.

The stock was found on land leased to one Swastik Nagaraj, who along with mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy has been chargesheeted by CBI in an illegal mining case, they said.

Officials said they were searching for three more such illegal iron ore stocks.

PTI