Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Nov 8 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday adjourned to Nov 18 the hearing on the bail petition of former Karnataka minister and mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy and also on the petition of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking his custody for further interrogation in an illegal mining case.

Janardhana Reddy, in his petition, has alleged that his arrest in the case was “illegal” and sought quashing of the same. His brother-in-law Srinivas Reddy, who was also arrested and jailed in the same case, has also moved a bail petition.

The CBI had arrested the duo from Bellary in Karnataka on Sep 5 in connection with a case of illegal mining registered in 2009 against their Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

The special CBI court hearing the case Sep 13 rejected their bail applications while sending them to CBI custody for six weeks.

As the special court had subsequently rejected the CBI petition seeking further custody of the accused, the investigating agency moved the high court. The federal agency, in its petition, said it need to question the duo again about several aspects of the case.

The CBI, which is gearing up to file the charge-sheet later this month, has sought custody of the accused for nine days.

Meanwhile, the CBI special court Tuesday directed the authorities of Chanchalguda Central Jail to provide special class prisoner status to Janardhana Reddy and Srinivasa Reddy.

Janardhana Reddy, who is member of the Karnataka legislative council, was living as an ordinary prisoner since Sep 5. He would now be provided facilities given to special class prisoners. Such prisoners are usually given a room, bed, fan, table, light, shelf to keep books, newspapers and home-made food.

In another development in the case, the CBI has summoned son of senior Congress leader and MP K. Keshava Rao and a legislator for questioning.

The federal agency issued notices to Keshava Rao’s son Viplava Kumar and Congress party legislator K. Rambhoopal Reddy, who is loyal to YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. They alleged to have business links with OMC.

The CBI last week questioned Jaganmohan Reddy about his alleged links with Janardhana Reddy. It also quizzed state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy regarding the mining leases given to OMC when she was minister for mines from 2004 to 2009.

The company allegedly indulged in irregularities in mining iron ore in Anantapur district. It reportedly mined the iron ore in neighboring Karnataka but illegally transported it and exported it in the name of OMC.