Latest news with #Ballari-based
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CBI court verdict is a crushing blow to Janardhana Reddy's hopes of political revival in Karnataka politics
In a major blow to his hopes of political revival, former Minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a CBI special court in Hyderabad in connection with the Obulapuram illegal mining case – one of several that have long shadowed his career. The judgement marks a potentially decisive moment in the turbulent political journey of one of Karnataka's most controversial figures. For a man who once wielded kingmaker status within the State BJP, this conviction could very well be the final chapter in a saga marked by audacious comebacks and dramatic downfalls. Speaking to The Hindu, Ballari City MLA Nara Bharath Reddy termed the court verdict as 'divine justice' and said, 'Janardhana Reddy tried to carve out parts of Karnataka's territories in Ballari district to project them as belonging to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, solely to serve his illegal mining interests. I see the verdict by the CBI Special Court as divine justice,' Mr. Bharat Reddy told The Hindu. S.R. Hiremath, a prominent activist known for his relentless crusade against the illegal mining mafia in Karnataka, hailed the verdict as a significant milestone. 'Janardhana Reddy was such a powerful figure in the mining industry that he attempted to influence the judiciary to secure favourable judgments through bribery. In such a context, the CBI court's decision to convict and sentence him to seven years in prison is historic. I hope that the other pending cases against him in various courts and tribunals also reach their logical conclusions,' he said. Modi, Cong. govt should act Mr. Hiremath also urged the BJP's national leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to take a stand and ensure that the tainted MLA is removed from the Karnataka Assembly. Tapal Ganesh, a Ballari-based miner and long-time critic of Mr. Janardhana Reddy's mining operations, echoed the sentiment. 'Janardhana Reddy obtained a mining permit from Andhra Pradesh but carried out operations in Karnataka's Ballari district along the inter-State border. Using the A.P. permit, he illegally extracted 20 to 30 lakh tonnes of iron ore. The CBI Court's judgement is commendable,' Mr. Ganesh said. He further alleged that the Congress-led Karnataka government had made little effort to bring Janardhana Reddy to justice in other related cases. 'The inter-State border survey is unscientific, and officials, acting under Janardhana Reddy's influence, are doing nothing to rectify it,' he added. The road to revival In his chequered political career, after being sidelined within the party, Janardhana Reddy launched his own outfit, the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Although he managed to win the Gangavathi seat himself, the experiment largely failed. He remained KRPP's lone victor, while even his wife, Lakshmi Aruna, suffered a decisive defeat in Ballari City at the hands of Mr. Bharath Reddy. Janardhana Reddy then returned to the BJP and continued his determined efforts to revive his influence. Having spent more than 13 years in exile from Ballari due to court-imposed restrictions, he finally received relief from the Supreme Court just ahead of the Sandur byelection last year. He wasted no time in taking charge of the BJP's campaign, in a bid to re-establish his regional dominance. The byelection was seen as a litmus test of his residual political capital. Rift with Sriramulu However, the results did not go in Janardhana Reddy's favour. The BJP lost the Sandur seat to the Congress, and in the aftermath, he reportedly attempted to shift blame onto his longtime ally and close aide B. Sriramulu, a prominent BJP leader and key figure from the Naik (Beda) community. The fallout strained one of the most influential alliances in Ballari politics, further weakening Janardhana Reddy's revival strategy and isolating him. Tuesday's CBI court verdict now appears to be a decisive blow. The sentence is likely to remove Janardhana Reddy from electoral politics for the near future and dismantle the carefully constructed narrative of a political comeback. Even if he appeals and obtains a stay, the conviction severely dents his momentum by rekindling public memory of the mining scams, corruption, and cronyism that have plagued his image.
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Gold smuggling case: DRI links accused thru' forensic evidence, seeks time to submit new findings
Bengaluru, The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence informed the Karnataka High Court on Monday that forensic analysis of the electronic devices belonging to Kannada actress Ranya Rao alias Harshavardhani Ranya in gold smuggling case has revealed connections between her and two other individuals Tarun Konduru Raju, a US national, and Sahil Sakariya Jai, a Ballari-based jeweller. During the bail hearing for Rao and Raju, the DRI stated that the analysis of phones and laptops has provided crucial evidence linking the three accused. Seeking additional time to present further revelations, the agency requested permission to submit certain materials in a sealed cover. The DRI told the court that Rao and Raju had travelled together to Dubai and returned to Bengaluru on the same day at least 25 times. Investigators alleged that the modus operandi involved Raju handing over the gold to Rao in Dubai, despite his flight ticket showing Geneva as the destination. The two would then return to Bengaluru. "The credit card trail shows payments were made for the trips. After Rao's marriage, cash deposits were made into Raju's account to fund the travel," the DRI counsel told the court. It was further alleged that Sahil Jain, the third accused, would receive the smuggled gold in Bengaluru and handle its liquidation. Rao's counsel contested the DRI's claim that she posed a "flight risk", citing her travel history to 30 countries, her golden visa status, and a valid residence permit in Dubai, where she runs a business. He also pointed out that she is a first-time offender. When the matter of airport escort services was raised, the advocate clarified that Rao received assistance because her stepfather is a senior police officer, DGP Ramachandra Rao. However, the court expressed concern, noting discrepancies in the documents where her father's name was listed as Kabbinahalli Sidde Gowda in earlier applications. The judge remarked that even relatives of high-ranking officials are not typically provided with airport escorts, raising questions about preferential treatment. Meanwhile, the advocate representing Raju argued that since Dubai allows individuals to legally purchase gold, he cannot be held liable if customs duties were not paid upon arrival in India. He maintained that his client had no control over Ranya Rao's actions upon receiving the gold. Justice S Vishwajith Shetty postponed further hearings on the bail petitions to Tuesday, allowing time for the DRI to file additional materials. The case came to light on March 3, 2025, when Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
Gold-smuggling payment mode changed after Ranya married: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
Bengaluru: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Monday informed the high court that forensic analysis of actor Ranya Rao 's phone and laptops established links between her, accused no. 2, Tarun Konduru Raju, a US citizen, and accused no. 3, Sahil Sakariya Jain, Ballari-based jewel merchant. The trio has been arrested after Ranya was caught at KIA allegedly smuggling gold into the country from Dubai. Opposing Ranya and Raju's bail petitions, the agency claimed further investigation revealed some new things, and if permitted, the same would be placed before the court in a sealed envelope. DRI said the aspect of hawala money transfer was also found. Probe revealed that credit cards were used for making payments. Once Ranya got married, the payment mechanism changed — cash was deposited in Raju's account and he would travel using that amount. Sahil Jain would receive gold and liquidate it, the court was told. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Earlier, Ranya's counsel submitted that she is a first-time offender and an escort was provided to her because her father is a DGP — Ramachandra Rao. However, Justice Vishwajith Shetty pointed out that her father's name is shown as Kabbinahalli Sidde Gowda in the cause title, remand application and application filed by her before the trial court. The counsel then submitted that Rao is her stepfather. To this, Justice Shetty pointed out that an escort is not given for relatives and expressed surprise as to how one was provided to her, given that she is the DGP's stepdaughter.
