What is UP Illegal Mining Case in Which Akhilesh Yadav Summoned As Witness By CBI?

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has been summoned as a witness by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the illegal mining case. According to sources, Yadav has been asked to appear before the central agency in Delhi on Thursday, February 29.

The CBI has issued the notice to the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister under Section 160 of CrPC, allowing the police to summon witnesses during the probe. The Samajwadi Party chief has been summoned in connection with the CBI FIR lodged in January 2019, in connection to the alleged illegal mining in Hamirpur between 2012-2016.

What is The Illegal Mining Case About?

The case dates back to 2012 when Akhilesh Yadav was holding Uttar Pradesh’s mining department. The irregularities came to notice after cases of illegal mining were reported from seven districts of Uttar Pradesh – Shamli, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Deoria, Saharanpur, Hamirpur and Siddharthnagar.

It was alleged that several government officials were allocated some illegal mining sites between 2012 and 2016 when Akhilesh Yadav was the Chief Minister by flouting rules and regulations. The CBI in its FIR filed in 2019 also alleged that the mining rights were given in violation of NGT orders.

As per the FIR, the illegal mining caused a loss to the state’s coffers. It was also stated that the officials misused their position to take undue advantage of the state’s resources.

The CBI in its FIR also revealed that the government servants, in criminal conspiracy with each other, illegally granted fresh leases, renewed existing leases and permitted obstructed periods for the existing leaseholders, without following a tendering procedure.

Why Akhilesh Yadav has been Summoned?

The agency stated that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who held the mining portfolio between 2012 and June 2013, had cleared 14 leases in violation of the e-tendering process.

In 2019, the CBI conducted raids on the premises of some Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders in connection with the illegal mining case. The central agency was subjected to massive criticism by Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition parties who accused the BJP government of misusing the probe agency for political gains.