Illegal Sand Mining case: BSP leader comes under CBI scanner

After Samajwadi Party leaders, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders have also come under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the illegal sand mining case. On Tuesday, CBI conducted raids at the premises of former BSP MLC Haji Iqbal in Saharanpur. Haji Iqbal, a well-known mining baron, owns an educational institute in Saharanpur. There also have been allegations of land grabbing against the former MLC. The development could mean more trouble for Mayawati’s party as till now only former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and his party leaders were being investigated.

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New FIR for offence of criminal conspiracy

The agency has also filed the sixth FIR in the illegal mining case. In the new FIR, CBI has named Ajay Kumar Singh, the District Magistrate, Saharanpur, Pawan Kumar, then District Magistrate, Saharanpur and others including Mehmood Ali, Dilshad, Mohd. Inam, Naseem Ahmad, Amit Jain, Vikas Agarwal, Mohd Wajid, Mukesh Jain, Puneet Jain & unknown public servants for the offence of criminal conspiracy, cheating and violating prevention of corruption act.

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Earlier a preliminary enquiry was conducted by CBI on the orders of Supreme Court of India in 2016. It was alleged that during the period 2005 – 2015, 13 leases relating to sand mining leases in District Saharanpur (UP) were allotted and granted to accused leaseholders. “It was further alleged that the leases were renewed in 2012 and 2015 subsequently by the then-District Magistrates which were in violation of Government Orders relating to allotting the lease deeds through the e-tendering process,” said the CBI. During this tenure, Akhilesh Yadav was the CM and at-least, 14 approvals of illegal mining were allegedly granted by him.

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Search unveiled Rs.15 lakh and documents of two plots

CBI is probing the allegations that public servants in criminal conspiracy with private persons, executed lease deeds in favour of accused leaseholders. The CBI on Tuesday conducted searches at 11 locations including Saharanpur and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun (Uttarakhand) which led to the recovery of incriminating documents. During searches, Rs. 15 lakh and documents of two plots were recovered from the residence of one of then District Magistrate of Saharanpur.

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