CBI Summons Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Illegal Mining Case
In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a summons to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in connection with the 2019 investigation into alleged illegal mining activities in Hamirpur district. The agency has requested Yadav to appear before it on Thursday, citing his status as a “witness” in the case. This move comes as part of a broader inquiry into illegal mining operations across several districts in Uttar Pradesh, following orders from the Allahabad High Court.
The CBI’s probe into the matter dates back to January 2019 when it registered a case against 11 individuals, including UP cadre IAS officer B Chandrakala, former SP leader Ramesh Kumar Mishra, and Sanjay Dixit, who contested the 2017 state election on a BSP ticket. The investigation focuses on the illicit extraction of minor minerals such as stones, gravel, clay, and sand, which are considered government property. Allegations suggest that state government officials colluded with private parties to grant mining leases without adhering to the e-tendering procedures mandated by the UP government.
The inquiry scrutinizes the period between 2012 and 2016, during which officials allegedly issued fresh leases, renewed existing ones, and allowed mining activities in violation of the National Green Tribunal’s ban. The CBI aims to uncover the extent of the conspiracy, which involved the exploitation of minor minerals for financial gain, thus highlighting the role of then-mining ministers and the breach of regulatory mandates.
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