CBI tightens noose around Gali brothers

The chairman of Srilakshmi Narasimha Mining Company K Sasikumar on Thursday alleged that former managing director of AP Mining Development Corporation VD Rajagopal played a key role in handing out the 506 hectares of mining area allocated to him in a platter.

Claiming himself to be a victim of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, Sasikumar said that using illegal means Gali acquired the possession of mines originally allocated to him. He also condemned the statement of Rajagopal that he had done nothing wrong in allocating 506 acres of mining area to Gali Janardhan Reddy.

Describing Rajagopal as a `liar’, Sasikumar draw a rough diagram on a piece of paper depicting the mine that was illegally dug out by Gali’s henchmen with collusion of AP government officials. He said he was ready to depose in front of the CBI against Gali and Rajagopal in connection with illegal mining.

Meanwhile CBI Additional Superintendent of Police R M Khan told media that all the  five including Rajagopal, former mines secretary Y Sri Lakshmi , Special Secretary (Forests) K D R Jayakumar and Gali Janardhan Reddy’s elder brother G Karunakar Reddy were issued notices in connection with the illegal mining case. He said that the agency was yet to take decision on arresting all the three officers whose houses were raided on Wednesday night.

According to sources, the CBI sleuths did not rule out issuing notices to other individuals including officials allegedly involved in the mining scam.

Meanwhile, mining baron’s younger brother Somasekhar Reddy was grilled by the CBI sleuths at Dilkusha Guest House on Thursday morning and another brother Karunakar Reddy has been summoned on Friday for questioning.

The CBI has continued raids on trading firms and transport organizations that played a role in exporting the illegal iron ore of the OMC to ports in AP coast.

The agency also searched the premises of Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd   in Somajiguda, the promoter of the Krishnapatnam Port, Nellore, through which a major chunk of Gali’s ore left the Indian shore.