Latest news with #JanardhanaReddy
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Baldota steel factory: Will review DC's report, take decision,says CM
Vijaynagar: The Koppal District Collector has been instructed to submit a detailed report on the Baldota Steel Factory in Koppal, and an appropriate decision will be taken after reviewing the report, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to the media in Hosapete Vijayanagar on Friday, he gave his reaction to the work continuing despite the Chief Minister's order to stop the work of the Baldota Steel Factory in Koppal. Congress will win Gangavathi by-election Answering the question about the disqualification of Gangavathi MLA Janardhana Reddy, the court sentenced him to seven years in prison and he is disqualified as per the Constitution. If a by-election is announced for this constituency, a decision will be taken regarding the Congress candidate as per the party's decision. Congress will definitely win the Gangavathi assembly by-election. Criticism is natural in a democracy. But people will know about our government's achievements and commitment, he said. Those involved in illegal mining should be punished As the Leader of the Opposition from 2008-2013, a padayatra was held from Bengaluru to Bellary based on Lokayukta Santosh Hegde's report on illegal mining. The BJP government opposed it then. The fight against illegal mining then has yielded results today. Those involved in illegal mining should be punished and illegal mining should stop, he said. Reacting to Janardhana Reddy's statement that Siddaramaiah had helped him win the assembly elections, the Chief Minister said that his statement is completely false. He is a BJP member, how can I help him. I have been opposing the ideology of BJP and RSS throughout my political life, He said.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Steps underway to recover losses from Janardhana Reddy
Ballari: Independent efforts are in progress to file a petition with the govt, seeking to initiate another legal stage for recovering state losses incurred due to unlawful mining operations by and Obulapuram Mining Company ( ). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After a 13-year court process, a special CBI court in Hyderabad on May 7 imposed seven-year prison sentences on Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy and three others for . Tapal brothers and some organisations are preparing separate legal proceedings, with additional environmental activists expected to support the initiative. The recent establishes that OMC, while operating in 68.5 hectares at Antharagangamma Konda, Malapanagudi village, Rayadurg taluk, Anantapur district, damaged the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh boundary. Records indicate 28.9 lakh tonnes of iron ore were unlawfully extracted and transported through the Ballari reserve forest. The Karnataka area possessed premium-grade ore, which Janardhana Reddy extracted and transported illegally. Based on a conservative estimate of Rs 3,000 per tonne, the value of 28.9 lakh tonnes of ore is at least Rs 867 crore. "Janardhana Reddy was found guilty, and the sentence was delivered. The verdict serves as our foundation. Reddy acquired assets both within the state and internationally through unlawful mining activities. All of this should be classified as 'proceeds of crime' and must be seized. The govt ought to have acted on this matter, yet no action has been taken," said Srishail Aladahalli, an environmental activist from Sandur. Tapal Ekambaram, a mining entrepreneur fighting a legal case against Janardhana Reddy, has shared a comparable viewpoint, remarking, "The court has taken into account that Reddy pilfered and transported the wealth of the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The govt ought to reclaim compensation for the state's wealth that was plundered by Reddy. We plan to write to the chief secretary of the govt to demand our share of the ore that was taken from our mine. Our struggle in this matter will carry on." The Mines and Minerals (Development and Control) Act, Section 21(5), permits recovery of value, rent, royalty or tax from individuals who extract and dispose of minerals without legal authority from any land during their period of encroachment.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
After Janardhana Reddy's disqualification, BJP, Cong prepare for Gangavati battle
Bengaluru: The political parties in Karnataka are strategising to capture the Gangavati Assembly seat, which fell vacant after the disqualification of mining baron and Karnataka MLA G. Janardhana Reddy. Reddy was disqualified from the Karnataka Assembly on May 8 after being convicted by a Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in an illegal mining case. The current Congress-led government in Karnataka, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was sworn in on May 20, 2023. The term of the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled to end in May 2028. Although Reddy won the Gangavati seat in the 2023 Assembly elections as a candidate of his own party, Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), he dissolved the party and rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 25, 2024. With the seat now officially vacant, the ruling Congress, under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, is eager to wrest the seat to send a strong message that their policies and programmes have effectively reached the common man, despite the Opposition's allegations of appeasement politics. On the other hand, the BJP is determined to retain the seat at any cost. For State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, a victory here is critical to cement his political standing. He has already launched a 'Janakrosh Yatra' across the state to mobilise public sentiment against the Congress-led government. Party sources indicate that after Operation Sindoor, it has become even more imperative for BJP leader Vijayendra to secure a win in Gangavati. Meanwhile, aspirants from both parties have begun lobbying for the ticket. Iqbal Ansari, the Congress candidate who lost the 2023 Assembly election to Janardhana Reddy by 7,997 votes, is hopeful of securing the ticket again, banking on the advantage of the Congress being in power in the state. Former MP Sanganna Karadi and Congress leader Hanumantha Arasinakere are also reportedly in the race for the ticket. On the BJP side, party sources say that Aruna Laxmi, Reddy's wife, is willing to contest the seat. Local BJP leader Paranna Munalli, who came third in the 2023 Assembly election with 29,167 votes, is also considered a strong contender.
Hans India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CBI court convicts Janardhan Reddy in Obulapuram mining case
Bengaluru: It has been proven that Rs 884 crore has been illegally committed in the Obulapuram mining case. In this context, the CBI court has convicted former minister and current MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy. The court has also announced a 7-year jail sentence. He has been convicted under Sections 120B along with 420, 409, 468, 471 of the IPC and Section 13(2) along with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Janardhan Reddy has already spent 3 years in jail and has requested to reduce the sentence considering his age and service. However, the CBI special court has rejected Reddy's request. This has resulted in Janardhana Reddy being sent to jail again. Janardhana Reddy had left for Hyderabad on the morning of May 6 following the court hearing. Janardhana Reddy has requested the court to reduce the sentence given to him by seven years. 'I have already spent more than four years in detention. Considering my age and the public service I have done. The people of Ballari and Gangavathi have elected me with a huge majority. I am dedicated to public service. The support I am getting from the public reflects that commitment. Please reduce the sentence, Reddy has pleaded with the court'. However, the court has refused. Why not give you a sentence of 10 years? You deserve life imprisonment, it said and has rejected Reddy's plea. Since the sentence has been more than 3 years, MLA Janardhana Reddy's jail term is certain. Reddy has also been given a month to file an appeal. Thus, he will be saved only if the High Court stays his sentence and he should apply for bail in the Hyderabad High Court. However, he will have to remain in jail until the High Court grants him bail. If the sentence is not stayed, there is a risk of disqualification from the MLA seat. Our faith in judicial system has increased: Social activist It is said that the struggle waged by social activist S R Hiremath is also the main reason for Gali Janardhana Reddy getting a 7-year sentence in the illegal mining case. Giving his first response to the media, he said that many cases are waiting for trial in the judicial system, especially cases of public importance and the mining mafia, who looted natural resources without any hesitation, freely and irresponsibly, is being punished even after 15 years, which means our faith in the judicial system has increased. What is this case? The Obalapuram illegal mining case came to light when YS Rajashekar Reddy was the CM of Andhra Pradesh and BS Yediyurappa was the CM of Karnataka. It was alleged that illegal mining of ore was taking place in the Obalapuram hills, which border Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The departments alleged that the mining was illegal when it was sanctioned. In the Obalapur illegal mining case, it has been proven that 884 crores of illegal activities were committed. They are accused of looting a total of 29 lakh tonnes of ore. Already, only three people have been released on bail in the same case after serving a year in jail.
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.
