After multiple CAG reports mapped out ₹20,000 crore in suspected losses mine by mine and corridor by corridor, Odisha's Steel and Mines Department announced surprise inspections — of the exact sites auditors already named and published.
Over several years, the Comptroller and Auditor General patiently documented Odisha's mining irregularities in remarkable detail: ₹4,162 crore lost to iron ore undervaluation along specific transport corridors, ₹3,966 crore in court-ordered dues that were simply not recovered, and minor mineral royalties quietly absorbed into public works without authorisation. Suspected irregularities across audits: over ₹20,000 crore. On June 7, 2026, the Steel and Mines Department announced its response — surprise inspections of mines, stockyards, crusher units, railway sidings, ports, and transportation routes. Officials have been warned that negligence will attract disciplinary action. The element of surprise is expected to catch anyone who has not yet read the CAG reports that have been available on the government's own website for years.