Former Karnataka Minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy, recently convicted in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal iron ore mining case, has approached the Telangana High Court seeking bail and suspension of the CBI court’s verdict.
The Special CBI Court in Hyderabad, on May 6, sentenced Reddy and others to seven years of rigorous imprisonment holding them guilty of causing a loss of ₹884 crore to the exchequer through illegal mining between 2007 and 2009.
Reddy, listed as accused number two, was convicted along with his brother-in-law and OMC Managing Director Srinivasa Reddy, former Director of Mines and Geology VD Rajagopal, and Mehafuz Ali Khan, Reddy’s personal assistant. The CBI had filed a chargesheet 14 years ago, alleging tampering with mining lease boundaries and illegal mining activities in the Bellary Reserve Forest on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.
Additionally, a petition filed by Reddy seeking ‘A’ class facilities in Chanchalguda prison, citing his status as an ex-minister and taxpayer, was “returned” by the CBI court, prompting him to approach the High Court for the same.