Revanth Orders CID To Probe All Mining Scams
Revanth Reddy said the CID probe would focus on irregularities committed from June 2, 2014 till date
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday ordered a comprehensive inquiry by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) into all mining-related irregularities in the state from the BRS government’s on June 2, 2014, till date.
The CM's announcement came after heated exchanges between Congress members and the opposition BRS over allegations of illegal mining. BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao demanded the constitution of a House committee to probe alleged irregularities by Raghava Constructions, which he claimed was linked to revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
Mines minister G. Vivek and legislative affairs minister D. Sridhar Babu rejected the demand, stating that large-scale irregularities had occurred during the BRS regime between 2014 and 2023, particularly in sand and granite mining. They instead proposed a broader probe covering the entire period since state formation.
Unconvinced, BRS members staged protests and shouted slogans, stalling proceedings for nearly an hour. They insisted on a targeted inquiry into Raghava Constructions, but ministers maintained that it was not appropriate to single out one company for a House committee or an investigation.
Intervening in the debate, the Chief Minister accused the Opposition of indulging in “blackmail politics” and attempting to malign a minister with baseless allegations. He announced that the CB-CID probe would encompass all alleged mining scams.
Taking a pledge to expose all those involved in the state's mining racket, Revanth Reddy said the CB-CID probe would cover the sand mafia from Nerella involving BRS former MP Joginapally Santosh Rao and his father J. Ravinder Rao; Sirisha Geo Granites, Midwest Granites belonging to a BRS leader; illegal mining by Shwetha Granites linked to BRS legislator Gangula Kamalakar, which is under ED scrutiny after being pinned by a vigilance probe; Gayathri Granites of BRS Rajya Sabha member Vaddiraju Ravichandra and also Raghava Constructions.
Revanth Reddy stated that the Congress government had taken action against Raghava Constructions, issuing notices and collecting fines based on suo motu findings by the mining department, not on opposition complaints. "If we are biased towards our minister, could our government serve notices to Raghava Constructions and recover the amount for the losses? Did BRS ever do so when they were in power," he asked.
The Chief Minister alleged that BRS leaders K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao, had indulged in massive irregularities during their tenure as mining ministers, claiming that nearly ₹1,000 crore per month was siphoned off from the mining sector. He added that mining revenues had improved significantly since the Congress assumed power in December 2023.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka condemned the disruption of House proceedings, calling it an affront to democratic traditions. Sridhar Babu alleged that several firms operated without environmental clearances during the BRS regime, and accused the opposition of selective outrage.
Harish Rao accused the Chief Minister of resorting to diversionary tactics. He criticised the government for evading accountability to the Assembly.
