CBI raid on Obulapuram Mines
CBI has begun investigation of a case related to boundary disputes and illegal mining activities of two private firms and activities of unknown public servants & others.
For the uninitiated, the Obulapuram mines are with the famous Reddy brothers – BJP ministers in Karnataka. They are said to be close to Jagan Mohan Reddy, former AP CM, YSR's son. If the equations don't balance, Gali Janardhan Reddy, one of the Reddy brothers and Tourism Minister of Karnataka invoked the blessings of Lord Balajee of Tirupati by presenting the God with a Rs. 42 Crore worth diamond studded crown.
That of course did not stop the CBI from raiding the mining barons. CBI has constituted a Multi-disciplinary team consisting of officers of Survey of India, Bureau of Mines, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Customs & Revenue Intelligence (all of Govt. of India). This team also consist of Forest & other departments of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. This joint task force is led by DIG, CBI. A Superintendent of Police, CBI is the Chief Investigating Officer. On the request of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Govt. of India issued a Notification for conducting investigation by the CBI.
The forest area in Distt. Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh and Distt. Bellary, Karnataka have been notified as Bellary Reserve Forest vide Notification dated 12.05.1890 u/s.16 of the Madras Forest Act, 1882 and the mining blocks fall under the Reserve Forest area in Andhra Pradesh.
A lot of mining is going on in Andhra Pradesh, which would cause fiscal and political ripples all over the country.