Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Telangana High Court’s decision to remove IAS officer Srilakshmi’s name from the Obulapuram illegal mining case. The apex court issued notices to the respondents and kept her role under judicial scrutiny until the next hearing.
Earlier, the Telangana High Court had ordered the deletion of her name after she sought relief. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenged that ruling before the Supreme Court. The agency argued that the investigation against her remained relevant and that her discharge was premature.
Apex court sends case for fresh hearing
A bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Kotiswar Singh heard the CBI’s appeal. The judges stayed the High Court’s order and directed fresh hearings on the matter. They also instructed all respondents to file their replies.
The Obulapuram mining scam surfaced more than a decade ago. It involved allegations of massive illegal mining and irregular lease allocations. Investigators named several politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders. At the time, Srilakshmi served as an IAS officer in Andhra Pradesh. She faced charges of extending undue favours to private companies.
Legal experts said the Supreme Court’s intervention keeps the case against her alive. Further hearings are expected in the coming weeks. The ruling has once again shifted attention to one of India’s most high-profile corruption cases in the mining sector.
