CBI searches 25 places of former TDP lawmaker in AP in illegal mining case

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday searched 25 locations together with the premises of former Telugu Desam Party lawmaker Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao in reference to an ongoing investigation into alleged unlawful limestone mining case.

Searches had been performed in varied locations together with these in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana’s Hyderabad belonging to Rao and others in reference to the case, the CBI stated in a press release.

“During searches, several incriminating documents, mobile phones, material objects and cash have been recovered,” the CBI notice stated.

Rao, who represented Gurajala meeting constituency in Guntur district, has been dealing with allegations of irregularities in acquiring licenses for limestone mining.

After coming to energy in May 2019, the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy authorities ordered investigation by Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the state police. Later, the state authorities wrote to the Centre in search of a CBI probe into the allegations in opposition to the previous TDP MLA.

“In pursuance of the notification issued by the Andhra Pradesh government and further notification issued by Department of Personnel and Training of Government of India, the CBI has taken over 17 cases of illegal limestone mining from CID and registered a case on August 26, 2020 against 17 accused,” the assertion stated.

It was alleged that the accused had fraudulently performed unlawful and unauthorized mining, quarrying and transportation of limestone in Konanki village of Piduguralla Mandal, Kesanupalli and Nadikudi Villages of Dachepalli Mandal, Guntur District for a number of years.

They allegedly prompted income loss to the state authorities and different licensed lease holders, and in addition exploited the pure assets.

It was additional alleged that unlawful mining of a number of lakh of tons of limestone was performed by the accused in the course of the interval from 2014 to 2018, because of which, pure assets price a number of crore of rupees have been plundered.

“In order to ascertain the quantum of unauthorized and illegal mining, CBI is also conducting volumetric analysis by using satellite imagery. Investigation is continuing,” the CBI launch stated.

Rao couldn’t be reached for touch upon the CBI searches.