AP govt to ask Centre for CBI probe into illegal mining

Bowing to pressure from opposition parties and some MPs of the ruling Congress, Andhra Pradesh government has decided to recommend a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal mining activities in Anantapur district.

Getting a whiff that the CBI and Enforcement Directorate have started enquiring into the alleged illegal mining activities by OMC, the state government decided to request the Centre to order a full scale probe by the CBI, officials of the chief minister's Office said.

A formal letter is being written to the Centre seeking CBI investigation into the matter, they added. Opposition parties in the state the Telugu Desam Party, CPI, CPM, Lok Satta and Praja Rajyam Party have been demanding that the government order a CBI probe into the illegal mining by Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Karnataka tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.

Congress MPs - V Hanumantha Rao and Madhu Yashki-- also favoured a CBI probe to bring out facts in the case even as the state government has set up three different committees comprising officials of mining, forest and industries departments to inquire into the allegations.

The TDP, which has been in the forefront of the agitation against the OMC's illegal acts, has alleged that a Rs10,000 crore fraud was committed by Gali Janardhana Reddy with the active connivance of some Congress bigwigs in the state, referring indirectly to former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and his son Jaganmohan Reddy.