CBI files charge sheet in Obulapuram illegal mining case

The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed a charge sheet in the Court of Special Judge for CBI cases, Hyderabad in the illegal mining case against the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.

 

Besides Mr Reddy, the charge sheet named his brother-in-law B V Srinivasa Reddy, the managing director of OMC, former Andhra Pradesh Director of Mines and Geology V D Rajagopal and the Bellary-based company, a CBI press release said.

 

They have been accused of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal misconduct under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

 

According to the charge sheet, Mr Janardhan Reddy and Mr Srinivasa Reddy entered into a criminal conspiracy with the Andhra Pradesh government officials and got mining leases allotted to the company. It said they indulged in illegal mining activities amounting to lakhs of tonnes of iron ore.

 

The CBI said it had used satellite imageries and advanced surveying methods to establish the aspect of illegal mining. It had also used forensic accounting techniques to analyse computer hard disks, laptops, mobile phones with the help of data retrieval techniques.

 

As collection of evidence with regard to certain allegations in respect of the then Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh are in progress, her name has not been included in the charge sheet, a CBI press release said. The then Assistant Director, Mines & Geology, Ananthapur is now no more, it said.

 

The Reddys were arrested on September 5 from Bellary in Karnataka and are currently in judicial custody. They are lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.

 

NNN