The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, as a witness for questioning on Thursday in connection with illegal mining cases dating back five years.
Yadav has been asked to appear before the agency on February 29, according to officials. The notice issued under section 160 of CrPC enables the police to summon witnesses during investigations.
The case in question involves the alleged issuance of mining leases in violation of the e-tendering process. The probe was initiated following an order from the Allahabad High Court.
It is alleged that between 2012 and 2016, during Yadav's tenure as chief minister, public servants allowed illegal mining and unlawfully renewed licenses despite a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal.
Furthermore, officials claim that officers permitted mineral theft and extorted money from lease-holders and drivers during this period.
The CBI had initiated seven preliminary inquiries in 2016 following directions from the Allahabad High Court to investigate cases of illegal mining of minor minerals.
Officials allege that during Yadav's tenure, 13 mining projects were cleared in a single day, with 14 leases approved, most notably on February 17, 2013, in violation of the e-tendering process.
The agency claims that the leases were granted by the district magistrate of Hamirpur, B Chandrakala, with approval from the chief minister's office, contrary to the established e-tender policy.
In January 2019, the CBI conducted searches at 14 locations in connection with its FIR against 11 individuals, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, Samajwadi Party MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra, and Sanjay Dixit, who contested the 2017 assembly election on a BSP ticket.
Yadav, who served as the chief minister from 2012 to 2017, held the mining portfolio during 2012-13, raising questions about his involvement, according to the FIR.
He was succeeded by Gayatri Prajapati, who assumed the role of mining minister in 2013 and was later arrested in 2017 following allegations of rape.
