Special CBI court quashes Reddy's bail plea again

A special CBI court on Monday rejected the bail plea of former minister of Karnataka, Gali Janardhana Reddy, sixth time in a row in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) case.

The tainted mining baron’s counsel failed to convince the court that his client, an MLC in Karnataka, requires a bail to contest in the Karnataka Assembly elections due next year.

The counsel argued that the CBI was dragging the case though the probe was already completed.

The CBI has been opposing the bail pleas of Janardhana Reddy saying that investigation is still on and, if released on bail, Reddy could tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses.

With the CBI court dismissing his plea, Reddy, currently lodged in Chanchalguda jail here, is now likely to move the high court, his counsel said.

Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivsas Reddy, the managing director of OMC, were arrested by the CBI on September 5 last year in Bellary and brought to Hyderabad. The CBI filed a charge sheet against them and others on December 3.

In March, Janardhana Reddy was shifted to Bangalore in connection with another illegal mining case in Karnataka and was brought back to Chanchalguda jail in September in connection with a case in which he allegedly bribed a judge to get bail. Though he was granted bail in this case, he remains in jail in the OMC case.