IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi, accused number 4 in the illegal mining case involving the former Karnataka Minister Mr Gali Janardhan reddy, was arrested by the CBI today.
Srilakshmi was the secretary of Andhra Pradesh Industries Department and Rajagopal was the then Mines Director and vice-chairman and managing director (in-charge) of AP Mineral Development Corporation during the period 2004-10 when alleged irregularities in grant of lease and permits to OMC surface.
Srilakshmi, listed as one of the accused in the illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and the OMC which exported over 90 lakh tones of illegalty mined iron ore from AP and karnataka and caused a huge loss of revenue to state to the tune of Rs. 4000 crore.
She has been questioned several times by the CBI during which she confessed that she acted on behest of the CM, KVP and also MGVK Bhanu, CMO official. Some of the applicants for the mining lease also blamed her for demanding bribes for processing their applications .
CBI has already arrested mining department director V D Rajagopal few days in this connection.
Sri Lakshmi passed orders as Secretary of Industries, in-charge of mines. The main charge against her is that she dropped the words “captive mining” from the government order sanctioning grant of mining lease of over 68.5 hectares in Obulapuram village of Ananthapur district.
She was also charged with sanctioning the lease to OMC post-haste, overlooking the bids of 26 other competitors. Only OMC and Vinayaka Mining Company in which Janardana Reddy’s father-in-law is a partner were short listed for selection. Mining businessman Sasi Kumar is believed to have charged Sri Lakshmi of demanding a bribe of Rs. 3 crores to issue orders in his favor.
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