'Janardhan Reddy Holds Considerable Influence, Can Tamper With Witnesses': CBI Opposes Bail Plea Of Mining Baron In SC

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday opposed the bail plea of mining baron accused in illegal mining case(s) Gali Janardhan Reddy.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan & R. Subhash Reddy directed the CBI to file detailed affidavit in this regard.

Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan (ASG) told top court that Janardhan should not be let out on bail and visit district Bellary in Karnataka as he holds considerable influence and might interfere with the investigation.

"He has filed multiple petitions, witnesses under police protection have been threatened and vehicles have been set on fire. 47 witnesses are there. We don't know what will happen if this gentleman is allowed to enter the area," Divan said.

In August, Supreme Court had allowed the former Karnataka minister and mining baron to visit Bellary for two days in order to attend the last rites ceremony of mother of his close associate.

"We find no merit. The petition is dismissed", a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan had said while rejecting Janardhana Reddy's plea for modification of the order and grant him permission to stay in Bellary for ten days and also caste vote in the elections.

The bench pointed out an order of January when Reddy had made a similar plea and it was rejected.

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 part of his bail conditions, Reddy was directed not to visit Ballari as well as Ananthapur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.

He was barred from Ballari as a condition for his release on bail in 2015.

Reddy's firm, the Obulapuram Mining Company, is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area.