Mining barons on tenterhooks as CBI hastens investigation

Many key players go missing fearing raids

Everyone, including the mine owners, the logistics firms, their accountants and those providing ore to the ones indulging in illegalities are all coming under the ambit of the CBI inquiry.

The CBI has conducted raids on 20 places since the probe began. Many have fled the city fearing raids on their homes and offices anytime and keeping track of the happenings through their aides.

Interestingly, officials did not come across any of the key people during the CBI raids on Monday and Tuesday. While in the offices, only the junior staff and the securitymen were to be found, the officials found only the women in the houses.

The houses of Kharapudi Mahesh, Swastik Nagaraj and STD Manjunath were raided on September 19.  Nagaraj surfaced four days later, and he was questioned for a couple of days. Mahesh was also questioned for four days with regard to illegal mining and his links with Janardhana Reddy and Srinivas Reddy. Meanwhile, the duo completed one month in jail on Wednesday.

In the dock
The Supreme Court has handed over investigation into the illegalities in the dealings of the Janardhana Reddy-owned Associated Mining Company to the CBI.

Mine owners, transport firms and related agencies will now face a probe with regard to illegal mining in the last five to six years.

Also, officers and other staff working in the district as also those posted here in the past are facing the heat following the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.