The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Part chief and the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the illegal mining case registered five years back. However, the SP chief is likely to skip the summons on Thursday, as per sources. Akhilesh Yadav received a notification on Wednesday from the central agency to record his statement as a witness in the case of suspected illicit mining in Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, between 2012 and 2016. The Allahabad High Court had ordered the probe.According to the CBI, during Yadavs tenure as Chief Minister, government employees issued mining leases in contravention of the e-tendering procedure, so enabling illicit mining between 2012 and 2016.On February 17, 2013, the CBI claims that the Chief Ministers office approved 13 projects in a single day, circumventing the e-tendering procedure. The illegal renewed licenses despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal on mining. Yadav oversaw the mining portfolio from 2012 to 2013.Akhilesh Yadav, responding to the CBI summons, stated on Wednesday that the 2019 case was brought with political intentions ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
