Central Bureau of Investigation Raids 11 Places in UP, Uttarakhand

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday searched 11 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in connection with illegal sand mining leases given in the Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, the agency said. Separate Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams conducted simultaneous raids at these locations, including in Saharanpur, Dehradun and Lucknow at the premises of the accused and others involved in alleged irregularities in the allocation of the mining leases.

The CBI on Monday registered a case in the matter naming 12 individuals, including two former Saharanpur District Magistrates — Ajay Kumar Singh and Pawan Kumar — nine villagers of Saharanpur district, some unidentified public servants and other persons. An inquiry into the illegal renewals of sand mining leases in Saharanpur was conducted following Allahabad High Court’s August 8, 2016, order. As per the CBI FIR, an enquiry revealed that 13 sand mining leases located in Saharanpur were renewed without following the e-tendering procedure as laid down by the Uttar Pradesh government. It was revealed that, initially, 42 sand mining leases were granted by then District Magistrate (DM) Saharanpur on March 31, 2006, and the deeds of 40 out of 42 leases were executed on April 4-5, 2006, in favour of leaseholders for a period of three years. However, the execution of 15 leases was challenged by the co-applicants before the Allahabad High Court, which on December 2006 ordered the Saharanpur DM to consider afresh grant of l5 leases. (IANS)

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