Mr C. Sasi Kumar, who failed to get the mining leases at Siddapuram and Malapanagudi in Ananthapuram district, told the CBI that the high level officials demanded from him crores of rupees as bribe for granting mining lease to him. He told the CBI he didn’t get the lease as he refused to pay any bribes.

He told a leading Telugu daily that he applied for the prospecting license in 509 hectares in survey numbers 1 and 2 of Malapanagudi and survey number 1 of  Siddhapuram on May 11, 2005 but his application was kept pending as he didn’t pay any bribes.

The same officials gave the lease to Gali Janardhan reddy-owned OMC in 2006 and the granting of lease to OMC was purely illegal, according to him.

Mr Sasikumar told the daily that he had given all the proofs and supporting documents to the CBI which has been investigating the illegal mining case.

He said he had applied for another mining lease of iron ore in 359.84 hectares in Ananthpuram district and this application was also kept pending by the officials for the simple reason of non payment of bribes.

He also alleged that the high court had directed the Government to consider his application also while granting mining leases but that direction was also ignored by the government. He said he had again approached the high court and the case was still pending.