Bangalore/Bellary, Oct 3: CBI today registered cases against two mining firms including Associated Mining Company owned by arrested former minister G Janardhana Reddy's wife Aruna Lakshmi, and conducted searches in Bellary, Bangalore and Davanagere in connection with illegal mining.
Raids were also conducted on the premises of Kudligi MLA B Nagendra while a case was booked against Deccan Mining Company, which has business links with AMC, highly placed CBI sources told PTI in Bangalore.
The cases were filed consequent to orders of the Supreme Court, which directed CBI to investigate illegal mining in Karnataka on basis of a Central Empowered Committee report.
CBI is already investigating illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh. Janardhana and his brother-in-law, the Managing Director of Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) were arrested on August 5 from Bellary and have been lodged in Chanchalaguda prison in Hyderabad since then.
CBI teams led by Superintendent Subramanay Rao conducted searches at offices of AMC and Jindal Steel Works in Bellary.
They also raided the premises of Kudligi MLA B Nagendra, a close associate of Janardhana Reddy, offices of Deccan Mining Syndicate Company in Bangalore and the residence of Davanagere Zilla Panchayat CEO Muthaiah, who was earlier Deputy Conservator of Forest in Bellary.
The authorities brought under the scanner bank accounts of Muthaiah, who has been facing allegations of aiding illegal mining by Reddy brothers.
Muthaiah is one of key officials indicted by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
Sources said several documents were seized during the searches. PTI
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