Latest news with #ObulapuramMiningCompany
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy shifted to Bengaluru central prison
Former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, once a dominant figure in the state's political and mining sectors, has been transferred to the Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara following his conviction in the high-profile Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case, reported The Times of India. Also Read - 'Kannada born from Tamil': Kamal Haasan's comment in Bengaluru event backfires, BJP demands apology According to the report, Reddy was brought to Bengaluru from Chanchalguda Central Prison in Telangana, where he had been lodged along with three other convicts since May 6, after a special CBI court in Hyderabad sentenced him to seven years in prison. The transfer was ordered so that he could be produced before the special court in connection with another related illegal mining case. This secondary case pertains to the illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port in Karwar in 2010, which is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency has named around 10 individuals, including Reddy, as accused. With hearings scheduled for June 2 and later, the court directed officials to ensure Reddy is available for future proceedings by keeping him in judicial custody in Bengaluru. Also Read - Pro-Kannada groups warn boycott of Kamal Haasan film ahead of Thug Life release, demand apology The Hyderabad court that convicted Reddy also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on him and his three co-accused. The Obulapuram Mining Company, central to the scam, was slapped with a penalty of ₹1 lakh. Reddy, listed as Accused No. 2, was immediately taken into custody following the verdict. The case, which has dragged on for nearly 14 years, revealed large-scale manipulation of mining lease boundaries and unauthorized mining operations in the Bellary Reserve Forest, straddling the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. Investigators estimate the scam led to a loss of around ₹884 crore to the public exchequer.
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.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Told him this case would jail him': Tapal Ganesh, the man behind Reddy's mining conviction, speaks out
BALLARI : The man who waged legal battle for the last 19 years in bringing the accused to justice in Obulapuram illegal mining case, activist Tapal Ganesh, has many reasons to be satisfied. He said that the CBI court's verdict is a lesson to all those politicians who are involved in illegal activities. Tapal said he lost his grandfather's land in 2006 due to illegal mining. Janardhana Reddy acquired over 4,000 hectare of land in the interstate border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the name of mining, he said. In 2006 Tapal filed a case in the Supreme Court and in 2009 Obulapuram Mining Company was closed as per the SC order. In 2011, the CBI arrested Reddy from his Ballari house. Tapal said that the court verdict has given him new hope. 'It's a lesson to all who misuse power. As per the CBI documents, more than 23 lakh tons mining ore was worth Rs 884.13 crore. The court verdict has raised questions over his political career,' he said. He told the TNIE, 'In 2006 I filed case against him. I told him that Obulapuram mining case will put him in jail. Now that has happened. My ancestors are from Obulapuram and Mallapangudi area near Obulapuram. Janardhana Reddy and his associates illegally acquired land for mining. After he became minister in 2008 using his power, he changed interstate borders and in 2009 after I submitted evidence to the SC the Obulapuram Mining Company was closed. An inquiry committee set up by the then Andhra Pradesh government led by K Rosaiah, Reddy was mentioned as culprit. But he wriggled out due to changing political equations. After CBI arrested him in 2011, he protested his innocence. Now the CBI special court has convicted him. If he goes for appeal to higher court, I will again fight him,' said the activist.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Business Standard
Ex-Karnataka minister Janardhan Reddy jailed for 7 years in mining case
A special CBI court here on Tuesday convicted former Karnataka minister and MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and three others in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case. The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each. Reddy was named accused number two. The court imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the company. Soon after the judgment the CBI took Reddy and others into custody. The CBI court delivered the judgement nearly 14 years after the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Reddy and others accusing them of tampering with mining lease boundary markings and carrying out mining illegally in Bellary Reserve Forest area on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. The Principal Special Judge for CBI cases Judge T Raghu Ram acquitted ex-minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and former bureaucrat B Krupanandam in the case. The court convicted Janardhan Reddy's brother-in-law and Managing Director of OMC, Srinivas Reddy (A1) and VD Rajagopal (A3), the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Mehafuz Ali Khan (A7), Reddy's personal assistant. The prosecution accused that the illegal mining between 2007 and 2009 caused Rs 884 crore loss to the exchequer. The CBI had on December 3, 2011 filed the first charge sheet and subsequently three supplementary chargesheets in the case against Reddy, who is also director of the mining company, Srinivas Reddy, Rajagopal, late R Linga Reddy and the OMC (A4). Senior IAS officer Y Srilakshmi was discharged from the case by the Telangana High Court in November 2022. CBI Public Prosecutor Inderjeet Santoshi and Assistant Public Prosecutor Vishnu Majji argued the case on behalf of the investigating agency.
NDTV
06-05-2025
- NDTV
CBI Court Sentences Ex-Karnataka Minister To 7 Years Jail In Illegal Mining Case
Hyderabad: A special CBI court here on Tuesday convicted former Karnataka minister and MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and three others in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case. The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each. Mr Reddy was named accused number two. The court imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the company. Soon after the judgment the CBI took Mr Reddy and others into custody. The CBI court delivered the judgement nearly 14 years after the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Mr Reddy and others accusing them of tampering with mining lease boundary markings and carrying out mining illegally in Bellary Reserve Forest area on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. The Principal Special Judge for CBI cases Judge T Raghu Ram acquitted ex-minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and former bureaucrat B Krupanandam in the case. The court convicted Janardhan Reddy's brother-in-law and Managing Director of OMC, Srinivas Reddy (A1) and VD Rajagopal (A3), the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Mehafuz Ali Khan (A7), Mr Reddy's personal assistant. The prosecution accused that the illegal mining between 2007 and 2009 caused Rs 884 crore loss to the exchequer. The CBI had on December 3, 2011 filed the first charge sheet and subsequently three supplementary chargesheets in the case against Mr Reddy, who is also director of the mining company, Srinivas Reddy, Rajagopal, late R Linga Reddy and the OMC (A4). Senior IAS officer Y Srilakshmi was discharged from the case by the Telangana High Court in November 2022. CBI Public Prosecutor Inderjeet Santoshi and Assistant Public Prosecutor Vishnu Majji argued the case on behalf of the investigating agency.
