Illegal Sand Mining: ED Searches in Premises of Firms; Cash of ₹1.53 Cr, Valuables Seized
29 May 2026 9:52 PM IST29 May 2026 9:52 PM IST
The director of mines had issued several show cause notices to these firms for illegal excavations and later served demand notices to them
Representational Image. (Source:DC)
Vijayawada: The Enforcement Directorate carried out search operations on the premises of three firms involved in alleged illegal mining of sand at eight locations in Hyderabad, Jaipur and Coimbatore recently, as well as the residences of their leadership personnel.
ED-Hyderabad teams searched the premises of GCKC Projects and Works, Prathima Infrastructure and Turnkey Enterprises and the residential premises of Boinapally Srinivasa Rao, Ashok Kumar and V.G. Venkata Reddy, former mines director, in Hyderabad and Jaipur and at a farmhouse of Srinivasa Rao on May 26.
Srinivasa Rao, owner of the Prathima Group that is engaged in infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, and education sectors, is a close relative of BRS former MP Boinapally Vinod Kumar.
Investigations would continue based on an FIR registered by the ACB’s central investigation unit of NTR district in Vijayawada, against Venkata Reddy and the three firms with regard to violations in sand mining and also provisions, tenders and agreements.
In the course of the investigations so far, the ED said that it found that two types of illegal excavations were carried out by JPVL, GCKC and Prathima. They excavated sand beyond the permitted depth and from the areas that were not part of the permitted stretches.
The director of mines had issued several show cause notices to these firms for illegal excavations and later served demand notices to them. Upon analysis of demand notices, it emerged that the office of the mines director had raised demand notices amounting to `2,407.7 crore from the three firms.
The searches resulted in seizure of `1.53 crore, foreign currency of $1,800, silver valued at `1.29 crore, several digital devices and incriminating documents including details of movable/immovable properties held in the name of the accused persons and their family members.
The ED said it is continuing the investigations in the case.
Srinivasa Rao, owner of the Prathima Group that is engaged in infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, and education sectors, is a close relative of BRS former MP Boinapally Vinod Kumar.
Investigations would continue based on an FIR registered by the ACB’s central investigation unit of NTR district in Vijayawada, against Venkata Reddy and the three firms with regard to violations in sand mining and also provisions, tenders and agreements.
In the course of the investigations so far, the ED said that it found that two types of illegal excavations were carried out by JPVL, GCKC and Prathima. They excavated sand beyond the permitted depth and from the areas that were not part of the permitted stretches.
The director of mines had issued several show cause notices to these firms for illegal excavations and later served demand notices to them. Upon analysis of demand notices, it emerged that the office of the mines director had raised demand notices amounting to `2,407.7 crore from the three firms.
The searches resulted in seizure of `1.53 crore, foreign currency of $1,800, silver valued at `1.29 crore, several digital devices and incriminating documents including details of movable/immovable properties held in the name of the accused persons and their family members.
The ED said it is continuing the investigations in the case.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
Next Story