In OMC Case CBI Arrests IAS Officer AP
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.
Andhra IAS Officer Sri Lakshmi Areested by CBI in Mining
Srilakshmi was the Secretary, Industries and Mining during the YSR regime and is charged with allotting licences to Obulapuram Mining Corporation, by flouting rules. She was being questioned for the last few days by the CBI.
Currently the commissioner of family welfare, Srilakshmi is the fourth to be arrested after Janardhan Reddy, OMC MD Srinivas Reddy and former director of AP Mines VD Rajagopal.
She was the secretary of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Department when late YS Rajasekhar Reddy was chief minister. As per CBI, she favoured OMC in allotting mining lease, overlooking the bids of others, during this period.
She had been questioned three-four times by CBI earlier, with regard to allotment of mining leases during 2004 to 2009.
One of the major allegations is about grant of mining lease over 68.5 hectares at Obulapuram in Anantapur district.
A CBI team went to the family welfare department office and brought her to CBI office at Koti. In the evening she was produced before the metropolitan magistrate who directed the agency to produce her before a special CBI court tomorrow.
Her husband is an IPS officer, currently posted with CID.
In the course of investigation, it has also recorded the statements of Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, who was mines minister in YSR government; senior IAS officer MGVK Bhanu and retired IAS officer K Prabhakar Reddy.
Srilakshmi is said to be the first serving IAS officer in Andhra Pradesh to have been arrested in corruption case.
Top government sources said that CBI did not need to take the permission of the government for arresting an IAS officer.
"For launching criminal prosecution, government permission is required. For arresting, permission may not be required," sources said.
(With additional information from PTI)
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#mining scam #Obulapuram Mining Company #IAS officer #Y Srilakshmi #CBI
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