CBI homing in on another retired IAS officer

HYDERABAD: A retired IAS officer is in the dock for allegedly playing a role in granting mining leases to Gali Janardhan Reddy’s Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC). He is likely to face action any time now. The former officer was questioned by the CBI recently. Sources disclosed to Express that even as the agency was questioning senior IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, the role of this retired IAS officer, who earlier held a key position, came to light.‘’Enough evidence has been gathered against him,’’ sources said.During his questioning, he is said to have given contradictory versions to the agency about his role in granting mining leases to OMC. The retired officer had appeared before the CBI recently and his statement was recorded. He worked in the mines department during the tenure of the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.Sources said it was based on the questioning of Srilakshmi and Rajagopal that the CBI first recorded his statement. Subsequently, the agency is understood to have decided to initiate action against him.In fact, while in service, the official faced corruption charges back in 2003 and the state government received several petitions against him, some of which were referred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for enquiry. His name also figures in the list of 10 IAS officers the state government submitted to the AP High Court in March 2008 against whom corruption charges were dropped. The agency is likely to call him for another round of questioning Thursday after which the CBI may take legal action against him.