Another case filed against Janardhana Reddy

Bellary, Karnataka, Sep 11 (UNI) A criminal case has been registered against suspended BJP MLC Janardhana Reddy by the Toranagal police on a complaint lodged by mine owner T Narayana Reddy that the Legislator's company had trespassed into his land and excavated ore.

Superintendent of Police Amrit Paul here today said that in the last one week, this was the third case registered against Mr Janardhana Reddy.

Earlier, one Mangu Nayak of Honnalli Tanda lodged a complaint with the Bellary Rural police against him on September four that Mr Janardhana Reddy was behind the demolition of the historic Suggalamma temple atop a hill on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. A second case was booked against him on a complaint that his company was illegally excavating ore, despite a court order to maintain status quo in the disputed area, he said.

Mr Paul said the Rural police had arrested six people involved in transporting ore from the banned area in connection with the second case. The arrested hailed from Adoni and Alur towns in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Company Manager Shivakumar and Contractor Ravikalyana Reddy were absconding since yesterday.

Meanwhile, a tight vigil was maintained in the area with the deployment of additional police force.

In a related development, the Bellary Rural police have filed an affidavit in Bellary court, seeking the cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Mr Janardhana Reddy. The court today asked the police to file objections in this regard before September 30 after adjourning the case to October three for next hearing.

Mr Janardhana Reddy had shot into limelight after he accused Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Forests Minister C Chennigappa of taking a bribe of Rs 150 crore from the mining lobby in this district to allow illegal mining activities.

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