CBI opposes Rajagopals bail plea

HYDERABAD: Former mines director VD Rajagopal used his influence and ensured release of the vehicles which were involved in illegal transportation of iron ore by the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), the CBI told the court on Wednesday.Opposing the bail petition of Rajagopal, the CBI counsel said the former mines director called up an assistant director rank officer, who caught vehicles illegally transporting iron ore, and got them released. Further, he took unilateral decisions in granting mining leases to the OMC. In return, Rajagopal’s brother-in-law was absorbed as a director in the company, the CBI said. Since most of the witnesses in the case were government employees, Rajagopal would threaten them, if released on bail, the counsel contended. The judge posted the matter for further hearing on May 25.