Illegal minor mineral mining case: CBI searches across Uttar Pradesh

Source:- thehindu.com

CBI registered an FIR following an inquiry as per the Allahabad High Court’s directive.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday conducted searches at more than 20 places, including premises linked to former Uttar Pradesh Mining Minister Gayatri Prajapati and former Lok Sabha MP Ghanshyam Anuragi, in connection with alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district.

“The searches were carried out in and around Hamirpur, Jalaun, Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Delhi. Three premises are linked to Mr. Prajapati and one to Mr. Anuragi,” a CBI official said. Mr. Anuragi, who was earlier with the Samajwadi Party, joined the Bahujan Samaj Party in 2017 and then the BJP in April this year.

IAS official charged

The agency had registered the case in January, alleging illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur during 2012-16. Among those named was the then District Magistrate B. Chandrakala (an IAS official). The case was made out on the basis of an inquiry initiated following an Allahabad High Court directive.

According to the CBI, the public servants facilitated mining by illegally granting fresh leases. They renewed existing leases and permitted mining by the existing lease holders during the “obstructed period” though the National Green Tribunal had barred it.

The accused officials allowed unauthorised persons to excavate minor minerals, commit theft of the minor minerals and also extort money from lease holders and drivers of the vehicles transporting minor minerals.

After registering the FIR, the agency had searched 12 places in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on January 5. It led to seizure of huge amounts of cash and gold, besides documents pertaining to illegal activities.

The CBI had earlier said that the role of all mining ministers in Uttar Pradesh during the period under investigation, which includes Samajwadi Party chief and former State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, would also be probed. However, their names have not been mentioned in the FIR. Mr. Yadav held the additional portfolio of Mining Ministry in 2012-13.