SC Reserves Order In Bail Plea Of Former Karnataka Minister and Mining Baron Gali Janardhan Reddy

A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan heard the arguments put forth by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi on behalf of Reddy and ASG Madhavi Goradia Divan before proceeding to reserve the order in the matter.

In today's proceeding, Divan read out to the Court the Affidavit filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and opposed the bail plea of Reddy. She submitted that he was an influential figure with immense power.

"There are many witnesses in protection. Whenever he has sought for 2-3 days of time for family events, we have never opposed that. But, he cannot be let out permanently. It is only after many days that we have gotten the witnesses to speak up", submitted Divan.

This assertion was opposed by Rohatgi who called it a "cock-and-bull story that has been concoted with the aid of Section 161 statements".

"My friend is going into the merits of the matter. She is not allowed to go into it. This is permanent. The trial is yet to start. You cannot keep him inside indefinitely. If there are 15 accused, every accused has the right to do whatever they want", stated Rohatgi.

Divan also requested the Court to consider the prayer for expedition of the trial, while Rohatgi asserted that the Respondents had taken 20 adjournments and that "if they are not able to meet the exigencies, they should give it up".

The Court, after hearing the submissions of both the Counsels, reserved the order in the matter.

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 mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area.