Facing charges of paying bribes and permitting illegal iron ore exports, Adani Enterprises on Saturday contested the Karnataka Lokayuta report saying linking its name to illegal mining is imaginary and intended to defame it.

Adani Enterprises said that “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.”

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.

Charging AEL of paying bribes and permitting illegal iron ore exports through the Belekere port, 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.

(Sourced from PTI)