Former Karnataka BJP minister and mining tycon Gali Janardhan Reddy, the main accused in the Obulapuram Mining Company case, got a big relief from the Telangana High Court on Wednesday.
The high court suspended the seven- year jail sentence awarded by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court in the Obulapuram mining case and granted them bail. Justice K. Lakshman pronounced the orders on the pleas by the convicts for bail as well as a stay on the conviction.
The High Court granted conditional bail to Janardhan Reddy, his relative B.V. Srinivas Reddy, managing director, Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), D. Rajagopal, then Director of the Mining Department, and Janardan Reddy’s personal assistant, Ali Khan.
It may be recalled that case, registered by the CBI 16 years ago, related to illegal mining by OMC in Anantapur district of undivided Andhra Pradesh. A CBI special court in Hyderabad on May 6 awarded seven-year imprisonment to Janardhan Reddy and three others and imposed a fine of Rs.20,000 each. Rajagopal was sentenced for an additional four-year imprisonment.
Sabitha Indra Reddy, Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh when the case was registered, and retired IAS officer B. Krupanandam were acquitted of the charges framed against them due to lack of evidence. Sabitha Indra Reddy later joined the BRS, served as a Minister in the erstwhile BRS government, and is currently the Maheshwaram MLA from that party.
In the wake of this verdict, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has revoked the membership of Gali Janardhan Reddy. Gali Janardhan Reddy has approached the Telangana High Court challenging the CBI Court verdict. His lawyer argued that his prison sentence should be suspended, otherwise he risks losing his constituency.
He brought to the court’s attention that he has already spent three and a half years in prison and that he will suffer serious losses if a by-election is held for his seat. The High Court, after hearing the arguments of Gali Janardhan Reddy’s lawyer, granted him temporary relief.
It ordered him to submit two sureties of Rs. 10 lakh each. It also imposed conditions that he should not leave the country and surrender his passport to the court. It seems that these conditions were imposed with the intention of being available for further investigation.
However, the CBI strongly opposed the suspension of Gali Janardhan Reddy’s sentence. It told the court that there were no extraordinary circumstances to suspend the sentence and that other cases were also pending against him. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the High Court took a decision to suspend the sentence.
Meanwhile, the High Court adjourned to June 19 hearing on the discharge petition of IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi. It directed the CBI to file the counter to her petition.
