Lucknow, January 5: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday conducted raids at 14 places in Jalao, Hamirpur, Noida, Lucknow, and Kanpur. According to CBI sources, 11 people including government officials are involved in illegal mining of minerals. IAS officer B Chandrakala, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Satyadev Dikshit and Samajwadi Party (SP) MLC Ramesh Mishra are among the 11 accused in the illegal mining case. The CBI will also investigate former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as all the accused were ministers during his tenure.

CBI sources said to ANI, "From 2012 to 2013, Akhilesh Yadav was the Mining minister. All those who were ministers in that period, their role will be investigated." Illegal Sand Mining Case in UP: Residences of IAS Officer B Chandrakala, BSP MLA and SP MLC Raided.

For a limited period, there was a ban on mining in Uttar Pradesh, however, the government officials allowed mining even during the ban period. Adil Khan, B Chandrakala, then mining officer Moinuddin, SP MLC Ramesh Mishra and his brother, mining clerk Ram Ashray Prajapati, Ambika Tiwari (Hamirpur), mining clerk Ram Avatar Singh and his relative and Sanjay Dikshit are accused, said CBI sources to ANI.

As per ANI reports, "the high court had directed the CBI to probe the matter after a plea was filed alleging that illegal mining was taking place in the state with an active role of government officials". 55 People Booked for Illegal Sand Mining in UP.

B Chandrakala who has been in news for his anti-corruption crusade and proactiveness is also accused in the case. Earlier, a video of her reprimanding faulty civic official had gone viral on social media.

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During the time of the raid, Chandrakala was in her Delhi residence. The case was taken up CBI on the instructions of Allahabad High Court.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2019 05:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).