New Delhi, Oct 08: Two days after CBI filed an FIR in the controversial Rs 175-crore Taj heritage corridor project, the agency today raided a dozen premises, including the residence of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, to carry out further investigations in this high profile case. The premises raided included that of Mayawati`s top aide and former State Environment Minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui.

The action of the investigating agency comes after Mayawati and seven others were named by the CBI in its FIR filed at the designated court in Lucknow.

Mayawati`s premises in Delhi and in parts of Uttar Pradesh were raided by CBI officials, agency sources said. Besides the national capital and Lucknow, the raids were also being carried out at Khurja and Bulandsher in Uttar Pradesh.

Besides Mayawati, those named in the FIR lodged last night, are her top aide and former State Environment Minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui, former Chief Secretary D S Bagga, former Principal Secretary to Mayawati P L Punia, former Principal Secretary Environment R K Sharma, Former Environment Secretary V K Gupta, former Union Environment Secretary K C Mishra and NPCC chairman N C Bali. The residences of Siddiqui were also being searched by the CBI, the sources said and added that the agency would seek the help of Income Tax Department as and when required.

Meanwhile, CBI sources said in Lucknow that the raids began at 8.30 am.

Bureau Report