Tea Board chairman quizzed in connection with Karnataka mining scam

Tea Board chairman MGVK Bhanu was Sunday questioned by the CBI in connection with the illegal mining case involving Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.He is the second IAS officer to be questioned since yesterday in the case.The Assam cadre IAS officer worked in Chief Minister Office (CMO) when late YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.A CBI team, led by its joint director (Hyderabad zone) VV Lakshminarayana, examined Bhanu to check if he had any role in granting licence to OMC, CBI sources said.The CBI, investigating into irregularities in allotment of mining leases to OMC, had yesterday questioned IAS officer Srilakshmi.After appearing before the CBI, Bhanu said, "I appeared before the investigating agency only as a witness and they (CBI) sought some clarification from me."I had no role in any alleged irregularities. I did not handle mines-related affairs while in CMO. I was looking after affairs of forest department."I did not commit any wrongdoing while working in CMO. I stood for sincerity and honesty during my 26-year long service."The CBI has so far arrested three persons in the case --Janardhan Reddy, his brother-in-law and OMC MD BV Srinivasa Reddy, both in judicial custody now, and VD Rajagopal, former AP Mines director and ex-vice chairman and MD (in-charge) of AP Mineral Development Corporation, who is in CBI custody.