In a major political setback, Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy has been disqualified from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly following his conviction in the infamous Obulapuram mining scam. The Karnataka Assembly Speaker issued an official gazette notification, declaring the Gangavathi seat vacant. A by-election is now on the cards to fill the position.
Janardhana Reddy’s rise from a humble insurance agent to one of the most controversial mining barons in Karnataka was swift and surrounded by scandal. He built his fortune by illegally mining iron ore, allegedly in partnership with Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, exploiting vast stretches of hills and natural resources. However, the very empire that catapulted him to power has now crumbled under the weight of legal battles.
With the court handing down a seven-year prison sentence, authorities have already seized his properties. Following the final judgment, the government will officially take control of all confiscated assets. Along with losing his wealth, Reddy has been stripped of his political post, marking a dramatic fall from grace.
Adding to his woes, Reddy still faces four more years behind bars. Even after serving his sentence, he is barred from running for election for six more years—a prohibition that effectively closes the door to his political aspirations for the near future.
Once infamous for his flamboyant life and aggressive political actions, Gali Janardhana Reddy is now shunned. Informants close to his family report that even his brothers have isolated themselves. His conviction in a case of alleged bribery of a separate judge also blackened his name and added to his legal woes.
In the end of it all, the man who had once wielded so much power and had accumulated unimaginable riches is left with nothing: no power, no assets, and no political clout. Even with his erstwhile strong alliance with Jagan Mohan Reddy, Gali Janardhana Reddy’s tale is now a cautionary tale of power, greed, and fall.
