Hearing on CBI plea for custody of Reddys posted to Sept 29

Hyderabad, Sep 23: A CBI court here today (Sept 23) posted to September 29 hearing on the central investigation agency's petition seeking custody of former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, arrested in connection with alleged illegal mining activities.

Following requests by both prosecution and defence counsels, the court adjourned the matter to September 29 as it will also take up arguments on bail petitions of Janardhana Reddy and Srinivas Reddy on the same day.

The agency, probing "illegal" mining and irregularities in allotment of mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), had arrested Janardhana Reddy and OMC Managing Director Srinivas Reddy on September 5 from Bellary in Karnataka. The duo are under judicial custody till October 3 and lodged at Chanchalguda Central Prison here.

Meanwhile, lawyers continued to abstain from work in view of the ''Sakal Janula Samme'' (general strike by all sections) called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee.

CBI, which had earlier interrogated the Reddys for six days, had on Monday last filed an application seeking extension of their custody for nine more days alleging it wanted to probe details of foreign "benami" companies where Janardhana Reddy, (one of the directors of OMC) made and received investments by exporting iron ore.

The agency had yesterday opposed the bail pleas of Janardhana Reddy and Srinivas Reddy, contending that the duo carried out "illegal" mining by creating forged documents and through conspiracy.

PTI