Bellary: Rs 4.95 crore seized from lorry

There are further problems ahead for the illegal mining industry. A lorry laden with Rs 4.95 crore in cash was seized at Guntakal by the Ananthpur district police.

The driver's statement to the police is interesting to note. He told the cops, "The money was handed over to me by two close associates of Srinivasa Reddy, which I was to deliver to someone in Hyderabad."

"However the name of that person was to be revealed to me in Hyderabad once I reached there the police were told by the lorry driver.

Srinivasa Reddy is the managing director of the Obulapuram Mining Company owned by Janardhana Reddy and he is currently in custody. He was arrested along with Reddy by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

"This money has a direct link with illegal mining and we would look into the case," said a CBI source.  A team of the CBI has already headed to Ananthpur to seek further leads.