Bhubaneswar, Dec 3 : The Orissa vigilance department Thursday filed criminal cases against the state's two leading companies for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, a senior official said.

"The cases have been filed against Indrani Patnaik Mines and Triveni Earth Movers at vigilance police station at Balasore," Vigilance Department Director Anup Kumar Patnaik told IANS.

He said that 10 cases of illegal mining have been filed till now. Balasore is some 200 km from here.

Both companies have been accused of illegally mining iron ore in the mineral rich district of Keonjhar.

Orissa is one of the largest mineral-bearing states in India. About 16 percent of the country's mineral reserves are estimated to be in the state.

The investigation by the state vigilance department started in July following allegations by politicians that some mines were operating without licenses.(IANS)