Mining: Reddy wants to be shifted by air for court hearing

Hyderabad, Mar 1: Former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, an accused in the OMC mining scam, on Thursday moved a special court seeking directions to CBI to shift him to Bangalore by air where he has to appear before a court in connection with another illegal mining case.

A special court for CBI cases in Bangalore had issued a warrant against Reddy asking him to appear before it on March 2 in connection with illegal mining activity by the Associated Mining Company (AMC), owned by the mining baron and his wife Aruna.

Reddy today approached the special court for CBI cases here through his counsel urging that he be taken to Bangalore by air in view of his safety and long distance at his "own cost". [Read: K'taka: Lawyers on rampage, media become sitting ducks again]

The former minister is currently under judicial remand and lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here along with brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy since September 5 after his arrest by CBI in the "illegal" mining case involving Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

Meanwhile, Chanchalguda jail authorities requested police escort for shifting Janardhan Reddy to Bangalore.

The CBI had last December chargesheeted Reddys and three others in the OMC case accusing them of doctoring documents and hatching a conspiracy along with some public servants violating the mining lease agreements.

According to the chargesheet, alleged illegal mining and extraction to the tune of 29.30 lakh tonne of iron-ore was carried out in several areas in Karnataka other than 68.5 hectares leased out to OMC in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The CBI in Karnataka had already filed an FIR against 21 persons, including Gali Janardhan Reddy, his wife Aruna, former minister and Congress leader V Muniyappa and others in connection with illegal quarrying by Associated Mining Company (AMC), owned by Reddy and his spouse.

PTI