Karnataka mining case: SC grants bail to former Minister G Janardhan Reddy

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to mining baron and former Karnataka Minister G Janardhana Reddy, who is an accused in the illegal mining case involving his Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

He was granted bail on the condition that he shall furnish a surety of Rs 20 lakh and also not visit Bellary.

The apex court granted bail after CBI submitted that the investigation in the case involving Reddy is complete and both the charge sheet as well as the supplementary charge sheet have been filed.

Taking on record the submission of the agency, a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said, "Since investigating agency has no objection in granting bail, we are granting bail to the petitioner (Reddy)."

The bench also comprising justices A K Sikri and Arun Mishra also noted the submission of Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh and Reddy's counsel Dushyant Dave that he has been in jail for around four years.

Reddy who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the mining scam had in all five cases against him. In four cases he had been granted bail in the past. However in the Obalapuram Mining Case the CBI court had rejected his bail following which he moved the Supreme Court.

In his plea, Reddy had contended that he has been in jail for over three years and he was seeking bail in view of his poor health among other reasons.

In 2013, Reddy had moved the apex court challenging the High Court's decision to reject his bail petition.

He is facing several criminal cases and is now lodged in a jail in Andhra Pradesh.

Janardhan Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of OMC, were arrested by CBI on September 5, 2011 from Bellary in adjoining Karnataka and brought to Hyderabad.

In the Obalapuram Mining Case, the company is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area, spread over Bellary in Karnataka and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

OneIndia News