Telangana HC quashes CBI charges against IAS officer Srilakshmi

HYDERABAD: In a relief to IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, Justice Chillakur Sumalatha of Telangana High Court quashed the charge sheet filed against her by the CBI in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) case, stating that there was no basis for framing charges under Sections 120-B, 409 IPC, and 12 (2), 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The plea of Srilakshmi, who is presently special chief secretary of the Andhra Pradesh government, for discharge from the case was rejected by the principal special judge for CBI cases here on October 17.

Following this, she challenged the CBI court order and filed a criminal revision petition in the high court, arguing that ‘if the trial court pressed the charges against her, it would lead to miscarriage of justice, create irreparable harm, and result in serious prejudice against her’.The CBI, which has been investigating her role in the alleged illegal mining activity by the OMC in the Bellary reserve forest in Anantapur, had filed a chargesheet against her on March 30, 2012, under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.

The CBI had said that Srilakshmi misused her office during her term as secretary, industries and commerce, in the government of the then united AP, between 2007 and 2009.She had allegedly misused powers vested in her by conspiring to grant illegal mining licenses to favour the mining company owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy. She was made sixth accused in the case.She was arrested on November 28, 2011, in connection with the case and spent time in the Chanchalguda jail till October 2012, before her release.

Earlier, the high court had twice dismissed her discharge petitions. In September 2021, it had ruled that the CBI court was free to begin her trial. In 2016, the government revoked her suspension and she joined the duty as IAS officer allotted to Telangana. In 2020, Srilakshmi was inducted by the Andhra Pradesh government after she secured an order from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).She was promoted as special chief secretary last year.

Misuse of office allegations

The CBI had said that Srilakshmi misused her office during her term as secretary, industries and commerce, in the government of the then united AP, between 2007 and 2009, by conspiring to grant illegal mining licenses to favour the mining company owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy