Former Minister Sankara Rao, who was responsible for the ongoing CBI probe against the alleged illegal properties of the YSR Congress Chief Mr YS Jaganmohan Reddy, has filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) petition against Chief Minister Kirankumar Reddy and others in the state high court seeking CBI probe into the alleged illegal sale of red sandal wood.

Sankara Rao in his petition has alleged that red sandalwood worth Rs.500 Cr confiscated from smugglers was sold out illegally in 2011 to some private parties without calling global tenders.

Sankara Rao sought CBI probe against forest minister S Vijayarama Raju, special chief secretary (environment & forest) Janaki R Kondapi, chief secretary, principal chief conservator of forests and principal secretary (environment & forest) apart from the CM.

“Red Sandalwood is a precious wood which is available only in the Sri Seshachalam Reserve Forest. The Government has violated the basic principle of calling global tenders and sold off 2022 tonnes of the wood and another 9000 tonnes of the wood worth Rs.1800 Cr is ready for sale in the similar fashion,” he said in his petition seeking preliminary CBI probe into the alleged illegal sale.

The former minister said the government had violated the rule of global tenders by issuing GOs 81, 82 and 101 in March 2011 for selling the precious wood to the favoured persons and organizations.

Others mentioned in the PIL by Sankara Rao included the city-based Zitan Trading Corporation, Andhra Fogaku Pvt Ltd and Singapore-based Power Grip Resources Private Limited. (J)