Hyderabad, Nov 23 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Wednesday questioned retired bureaucrat K. Prabhakar Reddy in the illegal mining case involving Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official, who retired from service in 2009, appeared before a CBI team as a witness.

Prabhakar Reddy, who was serving in the office of then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, allegedly played a role in granting iron ore mining leases to OMC.

Prabhakar Reddy is the third IAS official to be questioned by the CBI in the case. It quizzed Family Welfare Commissioner Y. Srilakshmi several times. As then industries secretary in charge of mines, she allegedly played a key role in granting mining leases.

The investigating agency Sunday questioned M.G.V.K. Bhanu. The Assam cadre IAS official, who is currently the Tea Board chairman, was on deputation to Andhra Pradesh government in the capacity of a special secretary to the then chief minister.

Janardhana Reddy, OMC managing director Srinivasa Rao, and former director of mines V.D. Rajagopal have already been arrested in the case.

Srilakshmi figures as the fourth accused in the case. The CBI officials claimed to have built a strong case against all the four accused.

The investigating agency plans to file the charge sheet before Dec 3.