'Will Create Fear In Minds Of People' : CBI Opposes Mining Baron Gali Janaradhana Reddy's Plea To Stay In Bellary

"Your Lordship knows the history & he was granted bail on only this condition that he would not visit these 3 districts. This is one of the most notorious mining scams ever. The 9 accused(s) are the main conspirators including ministers, govt officials. All of them are co-conspirators & they are acting in tandem. This is a very dangerous trial. The fact that he will stay in Bellary would result in fear in the minds of people," submitted ASG Madhvi Divan for CBI.

The submissions were made before the Division Bench of Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari.

Appearing for Reddy, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted that irrespective of filing 3/4 supplementary charge sheets, the charges are yet to be framed and that the Trial has not yet commenced.

"3/4 supplementary charge sheets have been filed. Charges are yet to be framed. The trial has not commenced & there are many accused(s). On several occasions, I have been allowed to go to Bellary," submitted Senior Counsel.

Pointing out to the fact that irrespective of being granted Court's permission to visit his home town on several occasions, Reddy had never violated the conditions Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that,

"I have never violated the bail conditions. These conditions are harsh. These are not cases of public order. I respectfully submit that these conditions may be relaxed. I have my roots there. There are no prospects of the trial being started anytime soon," Senior Counsel Rohatgi added.

Senior Counsel also submitted that the CBI was under the apprehension that if Reddy would be granted permission to live in the district of Bellary in Karnataka, he would threaten the witnesses living in Bellary but the Trial had to commence in Hyderabad that was hundreds of kilometres away from Bellary.

"The trial is in Hyderabad. What they're saying is don't allow them to go to Bellary. Bellary is 100's of kms away from Hyderabad" submitted the Senior Counsel.

Opposing the plea seeking relaxation of conditions, Additional Solicitor General Madhvi Divan appearing for CBI submitted that the accused(s) on many occasions had tried to file quashing petitions etc with an intent to burden the court.

"On many occasions, one after the other these accused persons have filed quashing petitions, discharge applications, appeal against stay orders & the trial court has been burdened with this," submitted ASG Divan.

Background

Reddy was made a minister in the BS Yeddyurappa Government formed after the Bharatiya Janata Party won the Assembly elections in Karnataka in 2008. Three years later, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested him on charges of illegal mining. He was again arrested in 2015 and granted bail.

As a part of his bail conditions, Reddy was directed not to visit Bellary as well as Ananthapur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. He was barred from Bellary as a condition for his release on bail in 2015. Reddy's firm, the Obulapuram Mining Company, is accused of changing the mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area.