CBI officials today interrogated Mr Somasekhara reddy, Bellary urban MLA and brother of arrested mining mafia kingpin, Mr Gali Janardhan reddy at its offices at Koti in Hyderabad.

Sources said the CBI teams tried to extract information from him on the illegal mining, exports of iron ore to China and the details of undervaluation of iron ore exports. The investigators questioned him also on the mining activities of the Bellary-based Mahabaleswarappa Mining Company.

Meanwhile, some CBI teams conducted searches at the residence of Mr Karunakara reddy in Bellary last night. Local police were not informed of the raids, it is learnt.

Reports indicated that CBI officials have decided to take Janardhan reddy to Bellary for further searches and investigation. With this development, Bellary SP Mr Chandra Gupta was asked to beef up security at sensitive points in the town to avoid any possible trouble from the supporters of Gali Janardhan reddy.