SC rejects IAS officer Srilakshmi’s discharge plea

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a shocking setback to senior IAS officer B. Srilakshmi, the Supreme Court has dismissed her discharge petition in the high-profile Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case, directing that she must face trial in the matter. The apex court upheld an earlier ruling of the Telangana High Court, refusing to grant her relief from prosecution.

The case pertains to alleged large-scale irregularities linked to mining operations carried out by Obulapuram Mining Company, which have been under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for several years. During the hearing, the CBI advanced detailed arguments highlighting Srilakshmi’s alleged role in facilitating illegal mining activities. According to the agency, key provisions relating to captive mining were deliberately removed from official records and permissions, allegedly creating loopholes that enabled illegal extraction.

The investigating agency further contended that Srilakshmi played a crucial role in the decision-making process during her tenure and claimed that significant illegal assets were allegedly accumulated by her brother-in-law during the same period. The CBI presented these aspects before the court to establish a prima facie case warranting trial proceedings.

A Bench led by Justice M.M. Sundresh made notable observations while rejecting the plea. The court stated that an earlier stay order had been granted due to a mistaken understanding that the matter pertained to a different case. “We had earlier granted a stay under the impression that it was related to another case. We are now correcting that mistake. The accused have enjoyed the benefit of that stay until now,” the Bench observed.