Senior political leader in Telangana and former Home minister, BRS MLA Sabita Indra Reddy is once again facing legal troubles. The Telangana High Court has issued notices to her in a case related to the Obulapuram illegal mining case, which had previously caused widespread debate.
This case created a stir across the country in Andhra Pradesh before the bifurcation of Telangana. Many politicians and high-ranking officials were accused of benefiting the Obulapuram mining company in many ways during Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s regime in combined Andhra Pradesh.
As mines minister in Rajasekhar Reddy’s cabinet, Sabita Indra Reddy’s name is also included in this. She was arrested by the CBI and also was kept in jail for some time. However, the Nampally CBI special court that conducted the investigation in this case had acquitted many people including Sabita Indra Reddy some time ago.
After the verdict was issued, Sabita gained political momentum. After bifurcation of the state, she joined BRS and also became minister in K Chandrasekhar Rao’s cabinet. However, the CBI was not satisfied with this verdict. The CBI filed a petition in the High Court challenging the verdict given by the Nampally CBI court.
The High Court, which took up the matter on the petition, issued notices to Sabita Indra Reddy and former IAS officer Kripanandam as the latest development. Later, the next hearing was adjourned to next month. It ordered both of them to reply to the court and file a counter.
The main accused in this case, Gali Janardhan Reddy, BV Srinivas Reddy, Mefaz Ali Khan, and the then Director of the Department of Mines, VD Rajagopal, were found guilty and sentenced. Gali Janardhan Reddy and four others, including Gali, were sentenced to seven years in prison. The convicts were also fined Rs. 10,000 each.
Obulapuram Mining Company was also fined Rs. 2 lakh. In this case, the then Minister of Mines, Sabita Indra Reddy, and the then Secretary of the Department of Industries, Kripanandam got relief in the CBI court. After they were declared innocent, the CBI approached the High Court.
