BJP MLA and former Karnataka Minister Anand Singh was arrested in Bangalore today by CBI in connection with alleged illegal export of iron ore from Belikeri Port in Karnataka. CBI officials said, Singh is the fourth MLA to be arrested in the case after B Nagendra and Satish Sail, both independents, and Suresh Babu of BSR Congress.

The BJP MLA's arrest comes in the wake of CBI Special Court rejecting his anticipatory bail plea on October 7.

The illegal export from Belekeri port in Uttara Kannada district was exposed by former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde. In his report, Mr. Hegde had said that 7.74 million tonnes of iron
ore were illegally exported between 2006-2007 and 2010-11, causing huge loss to the exchequer.

Those in custody include two former IAS officers and two Indian Forest Service officers.