Tourism Minister B Sriramulu and MLC G Janardhana Reddy have moved the Karnataka High Court, seeking it to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them by police and forest authorities of Bellary.

The criminal cases are those lodged in connection with the activities of Obalapuram Mining Company, owned by Janardhan Reddy. Mr Sriramulu is one of the directors of the company. In the criminal petitions filed before HC, Minister Sriramulu has sought the Court to quash the complaint and FIR registered against him by Toranagallu police and Cowl Bazaar police on Aug 23, 2007. The complaint registered in Toranagallu police station  was lodged  by Deputy Conservator of Forests P Rajashekaran, accusing Sriramulu of threatening him. MLC Janardhana Reddy, along with six other persons, have petitioned against the complaint filed by the forest authorities of Ananthapur Kuditini, Bellary Range before the Bellary JMFC on Aug 21, 2007.