Akhilesh’s office cleared 13 mining files in single day: CBI

NEW DELHI: Laying the ground for questioning of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on Monday said his office had “illegally” cleared 13 mining projects in a single day in 2013. The case has taken political colour as it was registered at a time when Yadav’s Samajwadi Party is firming up an electoral alliance with Mayawati’s BSP in Uttar Pradesh “The CM’s office under Yadav, cleared files for granting 14 leases, of which 13 were cleared on February 17, 2013, in violation of e-tendering process. Yadav also held the mining portfolio then. In all, 22 such clearances were granted.

NEWDELHI: Laying the ground for questioning of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on Monday said his office had “illegally” cleared 13 mining projects in a single day in 2013.

The case has taken political colour as it was registered at a time when Yadav’s Samajwadi Party is firming up an electoral alliance with Mayawati’s BSP in Uttar Pradesh

“The chief minister’s office under Yadav, cleared files for granting 14 leases, of which 13 were cleared on February 17, 2013, in violation of e-tendering process. Yadav also held the mining portfolio then. In all, 22 such clearances were granted. The rest of the clearances came when Gayatri Prajapati was holding the mining portfolio,” said an official of the investigating agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official added that leases were granted by the then district magistrate of Hamirpur B Chandrakala after getting approval from the chief minister’s office in violation of its 2012 e-tender policy. The e-tendering policy was ratified by the Allahabad high court on January 29, 2013.

The FIR in the case, in which Chandrakala has been named as an accused, states that the role of then mining ministers may be looked into during the course of investigation.

But Yadav has stated that the BJP was using the CBI as a tool for arm-twisting the opposition party leaders, some of whom are trying to forge an alliance against the ruling party.

“Now we have to tell the CBI as to how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity,” Yadav had said.

The CBI had carried out searches at 14 locations on Saturday in the case which pertains to alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16.

The agency is also planning to call Chandrakala for questioning in the matter.