The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested mining scam accused V.D. Rajagopal for aiding illegal mining in nexus with Gali Janardhan Reddy and for violating norms while granting mining leases to the latter’s Obulapuram Mining Company. His was the third arrest in the illegal mining case. Mr Rajagopal, who is the former vice-chairman and MD of AP Mineral Develo-pment Corporation, was picked up on Saturday evening from his residence in Kavadiguda and produced before the magistrate on Sunday morning.

Officials will produce him before the CBI special court again on Monday. After Mr Rajagopal’s arrest, the focus has now shifted to IAS official Y. Srilakshmi who was the principal secretary (Industries and Commerce) when the scam took place. Ms Srilakshmi is currently on leave and not in town. CBI officials found out that Mr Rajagopal’s brother-in-law D. Rajasekhar was a director of OMC. Both Mr Rajagopal and Ms Srilakshmi have been accused of issuing permits which facilitated Mr Janardhan Reddy to transport iron ore illegally. Earlier, CBI officials had searched the residence of Mr Rajagopal and collected documents related to the case.

He is the third accused to be arrested in the case after Mr Janardhan Reddy and his brother-in-law and OMC managing director B.V. Srinivas Reddy. CBI sources said that Mr Rajagopal was the mastermind of the scam and was very close to Mr Janardhan Reddy and his aides.

DC