Punjab High Court Orders CBI Probe into Illegal Mining in Hoshiarpur; Excavation Found Up to 110 Feet Deep

Chandigarh, Oct 9 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a preliminary investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged large-scale illegal mining in Hoshiarpur district after a court-directed inspection revealed excavation pits as deep as 110 feet and raised serious questions about the failure of state authorities to prevent environmental damage. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the CBI to identify those responsible for the alleged illegal mining and examine possible collusion between mining operators and government officials. The court also ordered a comprehensive drone survey of…