On Wednesday Arrested IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi disagreed her role in the Obulapuram Mining Corporation illegal mining case,As she said that the Government Orders sanctioning the mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Corporation were processed by her only after due approval of the then mines minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy.

In her bail application filed before the Special Court for CBI cases on Wednesday, Ms Srilakshmi also cla-imed that a provisional lease to OMC had been granted by the state government in 2005 when she was not the department secretary. Her counsel V. Surender Rao said, “The file was duly processed by the concerned minister and only after her approval was the order passed.”

On Wednesday Minister for health D.L. Ravindra Reddy said that action should also be initiated against then minister for mines Sabita Indra Reddy, who is presently the home minister, for irregularities in granting mining leases during her tenure. Dr Ravindra Reddy said that when IAS officer Srilakshmi was arrested for irregularities while she was secretary of mines, the same should be applicable to the minister who was holding the mines portfolio at that time.

“All are equal before the law. There cannot be preferential treatment for officials and ministers. If there are any irregularities in my medical and health department and the government takes action only against the secretary of the department, it will be unfair. As a minister heading the portfolio, I should be also held responsible,” Dr Reddy remarked. He added that the government has been giving key positions to officials invol-ved in irregularities.