Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Sunday said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has washed off its hands of the illegal mining and transportation of ore scam by ending the probe midway.

Speaking to reporters here, the minister said that as many as 57 companies had involved in illegal mining and transportation of ore.

The premier investigation agency could have got into the root of the scam. The state has suffered huge loss due to unabated mining and transportation of ore. The issue will be discussed in Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet sub-committee has taken several decision on the said issue.

Replying to a specific query, the minister said, "The Union government has is misusing the central agencies like CBI, I-T, ED, RBI and the Election Commission."

On the ongoing probe into murder of Gauri Lankesh, Ramalinga Reddy said, "The SIT has taken the suspects into custody. It is too early to reveal the identity of the suspects and their ideological leanings."