Hyderabad, Jan 25 (IANS): A city court Wednesday extended the judicial custody of former Karnataka minister and mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy and three other accused in the illegal mining case till Feb 8.
The special court dealing with the CBI cases extended the remand of the accused including Janardhana Reddy's brother-in-law B.V. Srinivasa Reddy, Indian Administrative Service officer Y. Srilakshmi and former mines director V.D. Rajagopal.
The judge heard Janardhana Reddy and Srinivasa Reddy through a video link from Chanchalguda Central Jail.
The CBI presented Srilakshmi and Rajagopal in the court as their custody ended Wednesday.
The investigating agency had arrested Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law in Bellary town of Karnataka on Sep 5 last year.
The arrests were made in connection with the illegal mining case against Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Janardhana Reddy. The case was booked in 2009 for illegal mining of iron ore in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Rajagopal, former managing director of the state-owned Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), was arrested in November. Srilakshmi, who was secretary industries incharge of mines when OMC was granted lease for mining, was arrested in December.
The two officers had allegedly favoured OMC in violation of norms.