CBI raids Mayawati's former secretary Netram's residence

New Delhi: Burying it in the nationwide search operation, where more than 110 places were raided across the country, the CBI also undertook the first search operation in connection with the alleged Rs 1,179 crore Uttar Pradesh sugar mill scam, that came up during Mayawati's tenure as Chief Minister, sources here said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation raided premises of Netram, Mayawati's former secretary and retired IAS officer in connection with the case and also conducted searches at the premises of Vinay Priya Dubey, another retired IAS officer. Dubey was then MD of the UP State Sugar Corporation.

In the lead up to the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the CBI had registered one FIR and six Preliminary Enquiries in connection with the sale of 21 state-owned sugar mills to private entities, during BSP supremo Mayawati's tenure, thus causing a loss of Rs 1,179 crore to the government exchequer.

The FIR registered by the CBI in the case deals with seven of the 21 mills and names the current private individuals who own them currently.

CBI sleuths also raided premises of all the accused, in addition to the residence of one Mohammed Wajid Ali and Mohammed Javed, both sons of an ex-MLC by the name of Iqbal Singh. The probe agency also blitzed through the offices and residence of a Delhi based Chartered Accountant SK Gupta in Barakhamba Road and searched premises of one Saurabh Mukund, a businessman in Saharanpur.

Officials said that during these searches, agency sleuths found around Rs 11 lakh in cash. Mayawati's government in 2007 had privatised 21 sugar mills of the Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation Limited and its subsidiary, which were sold between 2010 and 2011.

The Comptroller and Auditor General had in a 2013 report said these sales had caused a loss of Rs 1,179 crore to the state exchequer.

The CAG report found anomalies in the sale process, relating to undervaluation of land, plant and machinery, and lack of competition.

A former minister in Mayawati's government, Naseemuddin Siddiqui had reportedly said that the mills were sold on orders from then Chief Minister, with Mayawati categorically denying her involvement.

She had blamed Siddiqui for the sale and later dismissed him from the party.