CBI likely to visit Krishnapatnam port

NELLORE: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to visit Krishnapatnam port as part of its probe into illegal mining by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.Large shipments of iron ore illegally mined by Janardhan Reddy were exported to China from Krishnapatnam port.According to highly placed sources, a CBI team is likely to verify the records pertaining to iron ore shipments from Krishnapatnam port.It may also question the port officials, including CEO Anil Kumar, who incidentally was a former CBI officer.When contacted port PRO K Venugopal said they did not receive any information from the CBI about sending a team to verify records of iron ore shipments.About 45,000 metric tonnes of iron ore was exported from Krishnapatnam port by Obulapuram Mining Company owned by Janardhana Reddy.About 1,500 trucks with a capacity of 30 tonnes each used to transport iron ore from the OMC to Krishnapatnam port every day.Five shipments of iron ore used to be exported by the OMC through the port a day, according to sources.The CBI is likely to probe whether the OMC sent any iron ore shipments to China and other countries after the Supreme Court had stayed mining operations in Obulapuram of Anantapur district.In the report submitted by Karnataka Lokayukta to the government, it stated that 1,11,70,994 metric tonnes of iron ore was exported by the OMC to China through Krishnapatnam port.