12 aides of BJP leader's son held on illegal mining charges

Mahendra Patel, the son of BJP Kisan Morcha's district president Harprasad Patel, was allotted a sand mine in the Hinouta area. However, his men illegally extracted sand from a government mine next to the one allotted to him, District Mining Officer Prakash Varma told reporters.

The mining officials with the help of police today conducted raid and arrested 12 of his associates including drivers and labourers, he said.

The raiding party also seized eight trucks, two dumpers and a JCB machine used for excavation of sand from the spot, Chandla Police Station in-charge R K Gaikwad said.

Mahendra Patel was not traceable and efforts were on to nab him, sources said.

It was suspected that he used to sell illegally mined sand in the neighbouring Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, they said.