IAS officer Srilakshmi suspended

Court to hear her bail plea today

Srilakshmi, the fourth accused in the controversial case, was the Commissioner of Family Welfare at the time of arrest.

The government issued suspension order in the wake of charges of irregularities against Srilkshmi  who, as secretary incharge of mines in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government, issued the controversial orders granting ore mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Company owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.

Srilakshmi’s counsel Surender Rao tried to impress upon the CBI Special Court that she could be released on bail as she is a heart patient and will not try to move away from Hyderabad. She complained discomfort when medical tests were conducted on her at the CBI office this morning. 

The counsel further submitted that Srilakshmi, a topper in IAS and wife of an IPS officer,   followed rules while sanctioning leases. Srilakshmi’s contention was that she routinely signed the documents overlooking the word ‘captive’ , but  they were  later cleared by the then mining minister Sabitha Indra Reddy.

Minister’s role ruled out
However, CBI counsel Ravindra Nath ruled out  the  role of    Sabitha in the sanctioning of leases, and argued that as an IAS officer and the secretary in charge mining, Srilkshmi had the responsibility of explaining the ramifications to the minister.

The CBI questioned the veracity of the medical report submitted by Srilakshmi claiming that she was a cardiac patient. The CBI court, after hearing both sides, posted the hearing on bail petition to Friday.

The agency produced Srilakshmi in the CBI court as the  custody lapsed on Thursday. The judge sent her to judicial remand till December 12.  She was sent to Chanchalguda women’s prison even as she pleaded the court to let her stay in the CBI camp office at Dikusha Guest House.