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.
CBI officials questioned her three times earlier for her role in granting mining leases to Gali Janardhan reddy-owned Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
She was facing the allegations that she favoured Gali brothers over other applicants in granting mining leases to them by violating lease rules. CBI had also charged her with manipulating note files with regard to granting iron ore leases to the OMC.
There are reports that Srilakshmi tried to avoid arrest and she will turn approver at the behest of the CBI. (JUBS)
CBI Arrested IAS Officer Srilakshmi, who was listed as one of the accused in the illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy. 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 surfaced.
Many heads might roll before the investigation into the scam relating to the Gali Janardhan Reddy-owned Obulapuram Mining Company comes to its logical end. This was contemplated by many people and highly placed sources after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested IAS officer Y. Sri Lakshmi.
Ms. Lakshmi is the fourth accused in OMC case after former Karnataka Minister G. Janardhan Reddy, managing director of the company B.V. Srinivas Reddy and Mr. Rajagopal. She is presently the Commissioner of Family Welfare but her responsibilities have been entrusted to J. Shyamala Rao, Managing Director, AP State Health and Medical Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, in her absence.
The main charge against the IAS officer is that she dropped the words “captive mining” from the government order sanctioning grant of mining lease over 68.5 hectares to OMC in Obulapuram village of Anantapur district. She issued the order as secretary of industries in-charge of the subject of mines.
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 Mr. Janardhan Reddy’s father-in-law is a partner were shortlisted for selection.
WHO IS NEXT?
