UP mining scam: CBI may probe Akhilesh Yadav

The CBI may launch an investigation against former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as part of its probe into the sand mining scam in 2012-2013. Yadav was the CM and mining minister during that time. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided 14 locations across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Sleuths raided the residence and offices of 2008 batch IAS officer B. Chandrakala, Samajwadi Party MLC Ramesh Mishra, BSP leader Satyadev Dikshit, in connection with the mining scam.

The agency recovered more than Rs 2 crore and jewellery during the raids in Lucknow, Kanpur, Hamirpur, Noida, Jalaun in UP and Delhi.

The agency is probing the role of mining ministers between 2012 and 2016 when the illegal mining took place. From 2012 to June 2013, Yadav had mining portfolio before MLA Gayatri Prasad Prajapati was elevated as mining minister.

The agency may examine Akhilesh and Prajapati. Prajapati was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman in Chitrakoot.

Chandrakala has come under scanner for allegedly bypassing rules and granting licenses for sand mining during her tenure as district magistrate of Hamirpur in 2012. Chandrakala, a UP cadre IAS officer (aka Lady Dabang) is popular on social media for her anti-corruption crusade.

It is alleged that the public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16 and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by National Green Tribunal on mining.

Sleuths raided Chandrakala's flat at Sapphire Apartment in Hussainganj area and seized several important documents. She is on study leave and was in her Delhi house during the raids. Chandrakala has been the DM of several districts including Meerut, Bulandshahr and Bijnor. She has been charged with allotting mining lease to SP leaders without going for auction as per the norms.

Sources said a 15-member team from CBI questioned Mishra and former zilla pachayat chairman Satyadev Dikshit regarding illegal mining in Bundelkhand region.

The agency collected documents related to mining from the residence of Adil Khan. "We found that the mining licence to him was provided on the recommendations of Prajapati," a CBI spokesperson said. He added that agency recovered Rs 12.5 lakh and 1.8 kg gold from the residence of Moinuddin in Hamirpur and Rs 2 crore and two kg gold from the residence of the retired clerk of the mining department, Ram Avtar Singh, in Jalon.

"Ram Avtar was holding a mining licence on a different name," the official said.

Officials searched the residence of Mishra's wife in Lucknow.

The agency is currently investigating the charges of illegal mining in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh -- Shamli, Hamirpur, Fatehpur, Siddharthnagar, Deoria, Kaushambi and Saharanpur. The agency has so far registered three cases into the matter.

The CBI has taken up the matter on the directions of Allahabad High Court. The high court had directed the CBI to probe the matter after a plea was filed alleging that illegal mining was taking place in the state with an active role of government officials. It may be recalled that several policemen and government officials have been killed for raising voice against illegal sand mining.

Footprints in Sand

CBI seizes Rs 2 crore and jewellery in raids

• CBI searches residences of IAS officer B. Chandrakala, Samajwadi Party MLC Ramesh Mishra and BSP leader Satyadev Dikshit
• CBI recovers cash and jewellery during raids in Lucknow, Kanpur, Hamirpur, Noida, Jalaun in UP and Delhi
• SP MLA Gayatri Prasad Prajapati: Allegedly helped mining mafia when he was the mining minister in UP
• IAS officer B Chandrakala: Allegedly allotted mining lease to SP leaders without auction as per rules