CBI arrests senior IAS official in AP

Senior Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, Y Srilaxmi, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday in connection with the grant of mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.

Srilaxmi, who was mining secretary in Andhra Pradesh during 2007, was stated to have committed irregularities in issuing mining lease orders on 39 hectare to OMC in Anantapur district. According to the CBI, while the lease was meant for captive purpose, the officer omitted the key condition in the government order (GO) 151 issued on June 18, 2007.

She is the fourth accused to be arrested by the CBI in the illegal iron ore mining case involving OMC. The investigation agency, which is readying to file the chargesheet in the case by December 4, has already arrested former director of the state mining department, VD Rajagopal, prime accused Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law and OMC managing director, BV Srinivas Reddy.

The CBI also earlier questioned another IAS officer, MGVK Bhanu, and a retired IAS officer, Prabhakar Reddy, both of whom worked in the chief minister's office when YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) was holding office.

Srilaxmi, who is currently commissioner of Family Welfare, was arrested from her office and produced before the First Metropolitan Magistrate here. The CBI sought her custody for 15 days. The judge asked to produce her before the CBI-designated court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the CBI-designated court had extended the judicial remand of Janardhana Reddy and Srinivas Reddy till December 3.

The CBI is currently handling as many as five high-profile investigations including the cases pertaining to Emaar-AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation township project, illegal assets of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of former chief minister YSR, and the AP High Court-ordered probe against Telugu Desam Party president, N Chandrababu Naidu. In view of this, the Centre has granted five new special CBI courts to the state.