The Reddys are primarily accused of erasing the borders between Karnataka and AP for mining.
The jailed mining baron, Gali Janardhana Reddy, is in for more trouble. The CBI probe that was confined to illegal mining and iron ore trade in Andhra Pradesh will now look at his modus operandi in Karnataka too.
The Supreme Court on Friday expanded the scope of the CBI probe into the mining affairs and activities by the mineral extracting companies owned by the Reddys. The court allowed the investigation agency to conduct a comprehensive probe by examining the activities of the Reddys in both the states.
Janardhana and his brother-in-law BV Srinivas Reddy were arrested by the CBI on September 5 on charges of illegal mining, illegal iron ore trade, theft and trespass. Janardhana has also been accused of taking advantage of his position as a minister in Karnataka for carrying out his activities.
While Janardhana owns the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), which does mining in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, Srinivas is the managing director of OMC.
Though the Karnataka lokayukta had indicted the Reddys for illegal mining and trade, the CBI arrested them following a specific complaint from the AP government.
The Reddys are primarily accused of erasing the borders between Karnataka and AP for mining iron ore illegally and beyond the mines that were allotted to them by the respective governments.
Taking cognizance of a report by the court appointed Central Empowered Committee that massive illegal mining operations were being carried out by OMC as there is nexus among politicians, mining czars and enforcement agencies, the SC has asked the CBI to conduct a detailed probe.
Besides, NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya (SPS) that has been litigating for ban on illegal mining filed a plea seeking expansion of the CBI probe. SPS counsel Prashant Bhushan drew the court’s attention towards the revelation made in a report by the former lokayukta that an estimated three crore metric tons of iron ore was illegally exported from Karnataka between 2006 and 2010.
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