CBI questioned the IAS officer Mr MGVK Bhanu in the illegal mining case in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

CBI officials actually sent him notices asking him to appear before them today in Hyderabad but reports said that Bhanu requested them to allow him to appear one day earlier as he is due to take up his new assignment as chairman of the Tea Board of India in Calcutta on Thursday.

The CBI allowed his request and he appeared at its Koti office in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Additional SP Mr Khan grilled him on his role in the case and told him they would call him again in the next few days for further questioning, if necessary.

Sources said the CBI officials questioned him based on the affidavit given by Mr Konda Reddy, son of former congress MLA Mr Varadarajulu reddy, who was reportedly forced by the YSR Congress president Mr YS Jaganmohan reddy to give up his mining leases in favour of Gali Janardhan reddy.

Bhanu was the Man Friday of the late YSR during those days and he was also very close to the then Government adviser Mr KVP Ramachandra Rao.

Bhanu’s questioning on Wednesday was kept a top secret by the CBI and the media also came to know of it this morning only.