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HC stays CBI probe into 'illegal' mining

Last Updated 14 December 2009, 18:43 IST

Disposing of a petition filed by OMC, a Division Bench of Chief Justice A R Dave and Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy stayed the probe by the central agency.

The company moved the high court alleging that the Andhra Pradesh government had ordered the CBI probe into the mining operations carried out by the OMC on political considerations rather than unearthing illegalities.

OMC further alleged that despite its cooperation, Central Bureau of Investigation authorities were giving negative publicity to its operations.
“The terms of reference of the Central Bureau of Investigation are far beyond the scope of inquiry and the CBI probe is resulting in day-to-day interference with their operations,” the OMC petition said.

The Andhra Pradesh government on November 17 ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation probe following the recommendation of a three-member committee constituted by Chief Minister K Rosaiah to look into the allegations by the Opposition about the illegal activities of the mining company.

The Central agency, as part of its inquiry, conducted simultaneous searches at the offices and residence of Janardhan Reddy, a BJP leader in Karnataka, on December 10.
On Friday last, the OMC and Anantapur Mining Corporation, also owned by the Karnataka Minister, got interim relief from the high court, which suspended the Central and state governments’ orders restraining all mining activities involving extraction of iron ore in Anantapur district.

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(Published 14 December 2009, 18:43 IST)

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