Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Oct 4: Officials of the Lokayukta special investigating team (SIT) have arrested B V Srinivas Reddy, owner of Shree Minerals, relating to illegal mining case of Ballari district. The arrest was made in connection with a case registered by the team in 2015 on the basis of a report prepared by the then Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde.
Srinivas Reddy was produced in the special court for members of parliament and legislators. SIT officials stated that they got custody of Reddy for three days through the court.
It is said that former minister, G Janardhana Reddy, his close friend, K M Ali Khan, and some other accused had brought pressure on N Sheikh Saab, who was holding mining licence in the name of Indian Mines and Minerals, to include them as partners in the mining business. Under pressure, it is said, Sheikh Saab had set aside 75 percent share in his mine in NEB zone in Siddapur village, Sandur taluk, Ballari district to Devi Enterprises owned by K M Ali Khan.
G Janardhana Reddy and B V Srinivas Reddy
The SIT claims that the accused, by indulging in illegal mining, transportation and sale, had caused heavy loss to the exchequer. It said that between July 2009 and December the same year, they had illegally mined 1, 48,383 tonnes of iron ore and sold the same. "Although the mine in the name of Sheikh Saab had been taken over by Ali Khan, all activities like mining, transportation and sale were done by Srinivas Reddy. Therefore he has been arrested," SIT clarified.
In connection with this case, nine persons including Janardhana Reddy and Ali Khan were arrested by the SIT and all of them are out on bail.
Warrant against two MLAs
Relating to disappearance of ore from Belekeri port, the special court for members of parliament and legislators has issued arrest warrants against Congress MLAs, Anand Singh and Nagendra. The court is conducting trial on the basis of chargesheet filed by Central Bureau of Investigation relating to illegal mining. As both the accused named above failed to appear in the court on October 3, the court issued arrest warrant.