Bhubaneswar, Aug 21 - The Orissa High Court Friday granted bail to eight people, including state officials and mine owners, arrested for alleged illegal mining in Keonjhar district.

'The court has also directed the ninth accused, Director of Mines Rabi Narayan Sahu to surrender before the district court by Aug 26. And also the district court has been directed to grant him bail. This means that he can't be arrested till that day,' said Dhanandhar Nayak, counsel for Sahu.

Sahu has already applied for an anticipatory bail.

Cases were filed against two joint directors, a former director, a deputy director, a mining officer and a section officer of the mining department, a forest range officer and two mine owners Aug 11 for large-scale illegal mining going in 36 hectares in Keonjhar district.