The CBI on Tuesday conducted searches at 11 locations in Saharanpur and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun in Uttarakhand after filing a fresh FIR in connection with a sand mining scam in Saharanpur against 12 persons, including two senior IAS officers serving as secretaries in the UP Government.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the allocation of 13 sand mining leases in Saharanpur without following the e-tendering procedure.
Former district magistrates of Saharanpur Ajay Kumar Singh and Pawan Kumar besides 10 lease holders have been named in the FIR as accused for criminal conspiracy, cheating and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Singh is presently the secretary of Khadi and Village Industries Board, while Kumar is now posted as special secretary in the housing and urban planning department.
After filing the FIR on Monday, the agency carried out searches at 11 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, including at the residential premises of Singh and Kumar, officials said.
The probe agency claimed to have recovered Rs 15 lakh from the residence of Singh besides documents of two properties, they said.
The 13 leases were renewed in 2012 and 2015 despite the UP government cancelling all such orders issued before May 31, 2012. The UP Government also approved e-tendering procedures for awards such leases after May 31, 2012, according to the FIR.
These leases were renewed in 2012 and 2015 by then district magistrates in alleged violation of Government orders for awarding such leases deeds exclusively through the e-tendering route.
These public servants in criminal conspiracy and collusion with the private persons have abused their official position and executed the lease deeds in favour of accused, officials added.