CBI team visit Reddy's mines

CBI on Thursday inspected Associated Mining Company and Deccan Mining Syndicate in Ramgad mining area in Sandur taluk in connection with its ongoing probe into illegal mining in Karnataka.

A five member team, headed by CBI Superintendent of Police, Subramanyeshwar Rao, armed with samples of the iron ore from Belikeri port which was illegally exported to various countries, compared it with iron ore in AMC and DMS mining areas, CBI sources said.

CBI is being assisted by experts from Mines and Geology department, sources said. Associated Mining Corporation and Deccan Mining Syndicate owned, by former Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his wife Aruna Lakshmi are facing a probe for alleged illegal mining following a Supreme Court directive.

AMC had transported 0.80 lakh tons of iron ore to Belikeri port from Ramgad mining area on March 23 last year, CBI sources said. CBI officials have also collected iron ore samples from Krishnapatnam port, which belonged to DMS, sources said.

According to agency sources, the DMS allegedly routed its iron ore through the Obulapuram Mining Corporation belonging to Reddy and OMC illegally exported it from Krishnapatnam port. Reddy is in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bangalore following his arrest by CBI in connection with illegal mining case.