Pranab assures action against OMC

Hyderabad, Dec 8: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday assured the Rajya Sabha that the Centre would take due action against the Obulapuram Mining Company for violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) norms.Addressing the Upper House, Mr Mukherjee said all FEMA violations will be looked into by the customs authorities as FEMA violations come under customs law.

He said, “due action will be taken” in a reply to a supplementary question over what action the government proposed to take against the company promoted by Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.Replying to calls by CPI Member D Raja that the alleged illegal mining activities by the OMC be probed by the CBI, Mr Mukherjee told the House that the CBI does not come under the Finance Minister. He added that a specific request for this must come from the state.