Mining scam: CBI may question top TDP leaders

The Central Bureau of Investigation may question some top leaders from the Telugu Desam Party in connection links to Karnataka leader Gali Janardhan Reddy's illegal mining case.

Last week, the CBI had questioned YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding his alleged links with Janardhan Reddy and the Obulapuram Mining Company.

Sources point out that there was not much that really came out during this questioning, and hence they are thinking of questioning the TDP team for more details on the mining leases granted to the OMC.

During the questioning, Jagan pointed out that the original mining lease to the OMC owned by the Reddy brothers was given by the Chandrababu Naidu government in 2002. He stated that there is a government order to this effect to show that the lease was granted by the TDP government, and hence it is not right to point a finger at him.

Further it was also stated that once Y S Rajasekara Reddy took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the mining lease was only extended.

Moreover, during questioning, the CBI has not been able to find a transaction to nail the link between Jagan and the Reddy brothers in connection with the OMC. Jagan had always maintained that there was a contract to provide ore to his company from the OMC, but that contract was never acted upon.

He has also claimed that the land in question at Kadapa was given away at a throwaway price is wrong. He states that this land was given at a good price and moreover it was barren.

The CBI is now looking to question the mines secretary and the minister for mines during the year 2002. They would seek to know about the procedure adopted during the issuance of the lease permit and also the conditions and clauses that were added during that time when the lease was granted.

The CBI has been trying to find out how the Reddy brothers obtained a lease from Andhra Pradesh and used the same permit to mine in Karnataka. They are also seeking to know all the players involved in this and how the AP government had remained blind, despite the permits from their state being used.