Latest news with #ObulapuramMiningCase
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Obulapuram mining case: Appeals challenging CBI court order admitted
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court single bench of Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Monday admitted criminal appeals filed by Gali Janardhan Reddy and other accused in the Obulapuram Mining Case. He 'reserved' orders on the interim applications filed by the petitioners seeking 'bail'. All the accused – Janardhan Reddy, BV Srinivasa Reddy, V D Rajagopal, IAS (retd), K Mehafus Ali Khan – had filed applications in the main writ appeals, seeking 'bail' by suspending the CBI court order dated May 6 this year. The senior counsel appearing for Gali informed the court that consequent upon the CBI Court had convicting him and other accused to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of each Rs. 10,000. (The Karnataka Assembly by way of a notification dated May 8 withdrew Gali's membership). He pleaded before the judge to hear the application seeking suspension of the conviction order at an early date on the ground that the Election Commission will issue a notification for holding election to the constituency held by Gali. Justice Lakshman agreed to hear the application. All the accused had moved the vacation court in May seeking similar reliefs. However, the court declined to hear the appeals stating there was no urgency. The court adjourned the appeals for further adjudication to August.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana High Court to pronounce Gali bail plea order
Justice K. Lakshman of Telangana High Court on Monday reserved orders in the bail petition filed by Karnataka legislator Gali Janardhan Reddy who was recently awarded seven-year imprisonment by CBI special court in Obulapuram Mining Case. The judge would pronounce the order on Tuesday. The main criminal petition appealing against the verdict of the CBI special court and seeking suspension of the sentence would be heard from August 11. Senior counsel S. Nagamuthu, appearing for the convict Gali Janardhan Reddy, said that Mr. Reddy already served nearly half of the awarded jail term as remand prisoner having been arrested by the CBI in the OMC case. Citing Supreme Court verdicts, the senior counsel contended that convicts who served half of the jail term can be set free on bail. While the case registered by the CBI against Mr. Reddy was related to charges of illegal mining beyond the parcels of lands leased out to OMC, the investigating agency did not focus on the point in its charge-sheet, the counsel said. Though the special law, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act was invoked in the case, the CBI did not mention specific evidence against the accused in the case. CBI counsel Srinivas Kapatia, opposing bail to the convict, contended that there were no compelling circumstances to grant relief to Mr. Reddy. The convict's contention that the jail term would harm his political career and that he had lost rights to represent and serve people of the constituency cannot be grounds for granting bail. Mr. Reddy, who won as MLA from Gangawati constituency in Karnataka in 2023 having formed Kalyana Rajya Pragathi party, joined BJP during the time of 2024 general election. The Karnataka Assembly disqualified him as MLA following his conviction and awarding of seven-year jail term in the case.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Mining scam case: BJP leader Gali Janardhan Reddy's plea 'bizarre attempt' to use electorate as shield, CBI tells HC
HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has strongly opposed the plea filed by Gali Janardhan Reddy, MLA and accused no. 2 in the high-profile Obulapuram Mining Case, seeking suspension of his conviction. In a detailed counter filed before the High Court, the CBI urged dismissal of the criminal appeal and accompanying interlocutory application, arguing that Reddy had failed to establish any exceptional grounds warranting such relief. Reddy was convicted by the trial court under Sections 120-B read with Sections 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years, with all sentences running concurrently. The trial court had categorically held that the prosecution had proved the charges eyond reasonable doubt, backed by substantial evidence, including witness testimonies and documentary records. The CBI emphasised that Reddy is also facing trial in several similar criminal cases in the state of Karnataka. The agency further pointed out that in his present plea, Reddy had not cited a single mitigating factor to support his case for suspension of conviction. Notably, the appeal merely contains a one-line statement alleging harm if the conviction is not stayed - without any supporting affidavit or specific details. 'In the absence of demonstrated exceptional circumstances, the case does not qualify for suspension of conviction,' the CBI submitted.
