Uttar Pradesh illegal-mining case | CBI summons Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for recording his statement as witness on February 29

“Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summons Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for recording his statement as a witness on February 29 in the 2019 Uttar Pradesh illegal mining case,” an official said.

“Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summons Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for recording his statement as a witness on February 29 in the 2019 Uttar Pradesh illegal mining case,” an official said.

“In a notice issued under Section 160 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the agency asked him to appear before it on February 29 in connection with the case registered in 2019,” officials said. The Section allows a police officer to summon witnesses in a probe.

The case pertains to the issuance of mining leases in alleged violation of e-tendering process. The Allahabad High Court had ordered the probe.

It is alleged that public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16, when Mr. Yadav was Chief Minister, and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal on mining.

It is alleged that the officers allowed theft of minerals, extorted money from lease-holders and drivers. The CBI had filed seven preliminary enquiries in 2016 on the directions of the Allahabad High Court to probe the case of illegal mining of minor minerals.

“The agency had alleged that then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s office had cleared 13 projects in a single day,” officials said.

They had said Mr. Yadav, who also held the mining portfolio for sometime, had cleared 14 leases, of which 13 were cleared on February 17, 2013, in violation of e-tendering process.