Taking the probe into activities of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) a step ahead, the CBI on Sunday arrested Mr V D Rajagopal, the former vice-chairman and managing director (in-charge) of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation.

Mr Rajagopal was arrested under various section of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, CBI Joint Director (Hyderabad Zone) Mr V V Lakshmi Narayana said.

Mr Rajagopal is the third person to be arrested in the OMC case, after former Karnataka Minister Mr Gali Janardhana Reddy, who owns OMC, and the firm’s Managing Director Mr B V Srinivas Reddy. The two were arrested on September 5.

Mr Rajagopal was produced at magistrate’s residence in Banjara Hills (as the court is closed on Sunday). The magistrate directed the agency to produce him before the special court for CBI cases tomorrow, sources said.

Mr Rajagopal, also former Director, Mines and Geology, was managing director of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation from 2004-09, during the tenure of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Recently he went on record to say that OMC was given preferential treatment in allocation of iron ore and leases by the YSR government.

“YSR government was favourable to OMC… it was given top priority as it was going to set up big industries (Brahmani Industries steel plant in Kadapa district),” he had said and asserted that he was not the sanctioning authority.

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Published on November 13, 2011