Bhubaneswar, Aug 26 - The Orissa High Court has issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the state and the central governments in a case of alleged illegal mining in Keonjhar district.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice I.M. Quddusi issued the notices Tuesday while admitting a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Subrat Tripathy Aug 19.

Demanding a probe by the CBI, Tripathy has cited the reasons as to why the state vigilance department, which is enquiring into the multi-crore scam in the mineral-rich district, cannot unearth the corruption.

The state government had asked the vigilance department last month to investigate illegal mining in 39 hectares of the district.

The vigilance department, earlier this month, arrested eight people including mining and forest department officials and a mine owner for their involvement in illegal mining.

The next hearing in the case is Oct 14.