CBI summons Akhilesh Yadav

New Delhi: The CBI has summoned Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as a witness for questioning on Thursday in illegal mining cases registered five years ago.

The case against Yadav, who also briefly held the mining portfolio in 2012-13, pertains to the issuance of mining leases in alleged violation of e-tendering process.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered the probe. It is alleged that public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16 and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal on mining. In a notice issued under section 160 of CrPC, the agency asked him to appear before it on February 29, officials said.