Reddy promises `Full Cooperation’ to CBI Probe into Illegal Mining
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Dec 10: With the CBI sleuthes launching their investigation into the alleged illegal mining along Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border areas, Karnataka tourism and infrastructure minister Gali Janaradhana Reddy has assured ``full cooperation’’ to the central investigating agency in its probe.

The minister, who is the chairman of the Obulapura Mining Company (OMC) and is popularly described as the Bellary mining lord, told reporters in his hometown of Bellary on Thursday that he had instructed his company officials to extend full cooperation to CBI, which raided the OMC headquarters at Havambhavi locality in Bellary.

"There is no reason for me to panic by the CBI probe,’’ he said asserting that OMC and all other companies under his control were carrying out mining business well within the framework of the relevant provisions. ``So why should be worry?,’’ he asked.

The minister, who had mounted a most serious dissidence war against Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa recently along with his elder brother and revenue minister Gali Karunakara Reddy and over 40 BJP legislators, claimed that he was the first to welcome the CBI probe.

"I have publicly welcomed the Centre’s decision to order the CBI probe based on Andhra Pradesh government’s request,’’ he said pointing out that he was the first mine owner to seek CBI probe into illegal mining activities and the system of 'mamool' collection by those at the helm of affairs.

He mentioned that he had even moved the Supreme Court and the case was still pending in the apex court.

Reddy said there had been lot of such raids and inquiries in the past and all the occasions his companies were given clean chit. ``We have won quite a few legal battles too,’’ he said.

Not long ago, he said, a House Committee of Andhra Pradesh carried out an elaborate inquiry about the OMC mining activities. However, it found no irregularities. Likewise, authorities from departments of Forest, Mining and Environment in Karnataka too had carried out inquiries on various occasions but could not find anything against his companies

Income Tax Department had also carried out extensive and exhaustive raids on his residence, offices and other related premises before the 2008 Assembly elections but found no discrepancies he said and expressed confidence , he said asserting, ``This time too, we will emerge spotless.’’

The minister, who had leveled a Rs 150 crore bribery charge against the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy heading the JD(S)-BJP coalition government in 2006 as a BJP MLC and is still involved in court cases on the issue, saw a ``larger design aiming to destabilise the only BJP Government in the South behind the fresh round of probe exercise.’’

The Congress party and its allies had been conspiring to pull down the BJP government, he said declining to comment on his role in spearheading the dissidence war against Yeddyurappa regime and final capitulation at the intervention of central BJP leader Sushma Swaraj after extracting his pound of flesh in ensuring the shunting of chief minister’s principal secretary V P Baligar and sacking of the former rural development minister Shobha Karandlaje on account of her proximity to Yeddyurapa besides forcing the chief minister to withdraw all the transfers of officials.

"The Congress and JD(D) leaders are mistaken if they think that they achieve their goal by disturbing Bellary leaders. They will be disappointed,’’ he said criticising the Telugu Desam leader and former Andhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu for his role in raking up the illegal mining issue and launching a tirade against OMC and other companies to gain political mileage.

"The Deve Gowda-Kumaraswamy father-son party or the Congress leaders led by R V Deshpande-Siddaramaiah or the Chandrababu Naidus will be sorely disappointed if they think they can silence us,’’ he declared.