CBI Summons Akhilesh in Sand Mining Case for February 29, to Confront Him With Evidence So Far

After Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal, one more top INDIA front leader is now on the radar of central investigating agencies. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday in connection with the alleged sand mining scam of 2013. Yadav, officials said, will be confronted with the papers and evidence gathered by the agency so far.

Agency officials confirmed to CNN-News18 that a notice under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been sent to the Samajwadi Party chief, asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Thursday. A section 160 CrPC notice means, at this stage, Yadav is being called to provide information and not as an accused.

The CBI is probing allegations that illegal mining licences for sand and minor mineral mining were granted and renewed between 2012 and 2016. Akhilesh Yadav as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh held the mining portfolio in 2012-2013.

What CBI Wants Akhilesh to Answer

The CBI took over the probe in 2019 after an order from the Delhi High Court and carried out searches in various districts of UP and Delhi-NCR.

The agency on Thursday could ask the Samajwadi Party chief about the licence that was granted to then SP MP Ghanshyam Anuragi. The Jalun premises of the alleged close aide of Akhilesh Yadav have also been searched by the CBI.

The cases of alleged illegal mining were reported from seven districts of Uttar Pradesh: Shamli, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Deoria, Saharanpur, Hamirpur, and Siddharthnagar.

Agency officials said that some of the licences were granted in violation of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order and then cancelled before the intervention of the Allahabad High Court.

The CBI wants Akhilesh Yadav to clarify why the e-tendering process was not followed despite an order to this effect.

The agency also wants the then UP mining minister to answer why certain licences were granted even though the Allahabad High Court had cancelled them.

The ‘Conspiracy’

The CBI FIR alleges that at least 11 public servants and some unnamed officials got into a conspiracy, allowed theft of minerals, and also extorted money from leaseholders.

Akhilesh earlier termed the CBI probe political. The summons ahead of the Lok Sabha polls is likely to be attacked once again by the SP and its allies, who have frequently accused the BJP-led Centre of using investigating agencies as political tools.