CBI grills Reddys in illegal mining case

September 16th, 2011 - 10:05 pm ICT by IANS  

Hyderabad, Sep 16 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogated former Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law Srinivasa Reddy for the fourth consecutive day while the mining baron’s elder brother G. Karunakara Reddy also appeared before the probe agency in the illegal mining case.

The CBI officials continued questioning Karunakara Reddy and former director of mining department V.D. Rajagopal beyond 7 p.m. at the CBI office in Koti, sources said.

Karunakara Reddy, also a former minister in Karnataka’s BJP cabinet, appeared before CBI officials in the morning in response to the notice issued by the agency probing the illegal mining by the Reddy brothers in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district, bordering Karnataka.

Janardhana Reddy’s another brother, G. Somasekhara Reddy, had appeared before the CBI here Thursday.

With the CBI custody of Janardhana and Srinivasa ending Sep 19, the investigating officers intensified the probe.

The CBI sleuths Friday examined more witnesses, including those who had complained in the past that Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and other companies owned by the Reddy brothers carried out illegal mining in areas leased to them in Anantapur and also in iron-rich Bellary district of Karnataka.

On the petitions of Janardhana and Srinivasa, the special court for CBI cases Friday directed the CBI to provide basic facilities to them. The accused alleged that they were being lodged in a lock-up which lacks basic amenities. They also complained that the CBI was questioning them continuously and beyond the hours stipulated by the court.

The CBI arrested Janardhana Reddy and Srinivasa Reddy in Karnataka’s Bellary district Sep 5.

The same day they were brought to Hyderabad and the CBI court remanded them in judicial custody till Sep 19. The court Tuesday rejected their bail applications and remanded them in CBI custody for six more days.

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