UP govt officials come under CBI lens in illegal sand-mining case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun examining senior Uttar Pradesh officials in its probe into illegal sand mining that was rampant during the Samajwadi Party era.

The probe agency contacted officials of five districts last month and some have been examined by CBI sleuths. “The examination is under way and action will be taken based on the findings of our probe,” said a source.

The development comes more than two months after the CBI, on the directive of the Allahabad high court, registered five preliminary inquiries over allegations of illegal sand mining in the five districts — Shamli, Hamirpur, Fatehpur, Siddharth Nagar and Deoria. A preliminary inquiry is done to ascertain if the accusations merit a probe and is followed by an FIR. Sources said that the CBI might file an FIR if prima facie evidence against the government officials is found.

The court directed CBI to probe the matter in March after a PIL was filed alleging that illegal sand mining was taking place with an active involvement of government officials.

News of illegal mining had hit headlines during the SP regime in 2013 when IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal was suspended.

Apart from the illegal mining, the CBI is likely to look at cases, including the infamous Jawaharbagh encounter during the SP regime which left 24 dead.

“Among the cases that the UP government is planning to hand over to CBI is the Jawaharbagh encounter that took place last year in June,” sources added.