Rajkot: A 26-year-old royalty inspector of the mines and minerals department has filed a complaint with Gondal Taluka police station against nine people, including former Rajkot district panchayat executive committee chairman Sahdevsinh Jadeja, over alleged illegal mining.The complainant Kishan Ranva, states that the accused — including Siddhrajsinh Jadeja, Majbutsinh Jadeja, Ranjitsinh Jadeja, Digvijaysinh Jadeja and others — excavated minerals worth Rs 1.59 crore from grazing land and govt wasteland in Bhunava village of Gondal taluka.Investigations revealed that over 38,514 metric tonnes of gravel and 31,798 metric tonnes of ordinary soil were extracted and used without official permission. Preliminary findings indicate that the illegal excavation had been ongoing for nearly five years.Police said the case has been registered under IPC sections 379 (theft), 34 (common intention) and 414 (embezzlement), along with provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act.
