Bangalore: Janardhana Reddy in City, to be Produced in Court Later

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Mar 2: Former state minister and mining baron, Gali Janardhana Reddy, who was put up in Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad, was brought to the city by an air-conditioned mini bus with police escort by CBI. He reached here at around 3.30 am. His close aide, Sriramulu, and his sister and MP, J Shanta, and many supporters were present at the time of his arrival.

At present, Reddy has been put up at Ulsoor Gate police station in the city. He will be produced in the special CBI court, which had issued warrant for his presence, later in the day. Hundreds of his fans and followers have gathered at the police station to see their leader and cheer him.

An assistant commissioner of police, three police sub-inspectors, 15 assistant police sub-inspectors, and a contingent of 90 policemen have been deployed to look after the security of Reddy during his presence here.

Reddy is here to attend the hearing relating to alleged mining irregularities by AMC, of which he is a director.

Earlier News

All Jail Inmates Equal: No Special Flight for Janardhana Reddy

Daijiworld Media Network

Hyderabad, Mar 1: A court in Hyderbad has instructed Chanchalguda jail authorities to treat former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy like any other accused, and not give him any special treatment. Reddy, an accused in the OMC mining scam, has been locked-up in the jail since September 5, 2011. 

"Neither is he a special person nor should he be provided special flight," the court ordered.

This direction from the court has come in the wake of Reddy's appeal to Chanchalguda jail authorities to take him to Bangalore by a special flight, on his own expense, to appear in the CBI Special court on Friday March 2.

A special court for CBI cases in Bangalore had issued a warrant against Reddy asking him to appear before it on March 2 in connection with illegal mining activity by the Associated Mining Company (AMC), owned by the mining baron and his wife Aruna.

Reddy on Thursday approached the special court for CBI cases here through his counsel urging that he be taken to Bangalore by air in view of his safety and long distance.

Responding to the court's order, jail authorities have now taken Reddy to Bangalore by a mini bus at around 17.35 pm, Thursday, March 1.

The only liberty granted by the authorities to Reddy is to provide an air-conditioned bus.

The former minister is currently under judicial remand and lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here along with brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy since September 5, following his arrest by the CBI in the 'illegal' mining case involving Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

The CBI had last December chargesheeted Reddys and three others in the OMC case accusing them of doctoring documents and hatching a conspiracy along with some public servants, violating the mining lease agreements.

According to the chargesheet, the alleged illegal mining and extraction to the tune of 29.30 lac tonne of iron-ore was carried out in several areas in Karnataka other than 68.5 hectares leased out to OMC in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The CBI in Karnataka had already filed an FIR against 21 persons, including Gali Janardhana Reddy, his wife Aruna, former minister and Congress leader V Muniyappa and others in connection with illegal quarrying by Associated Mining Company (AMC), owned by Reddy and his spouse.