EC seeks details in case against Reddy brothers

With Kondaiah making fresh charges against Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy, Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Health Minister B Sriramulu about their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities, the Commission directed Kondaiah to submit more details to prove his allegations and adjourned the hearing to July second week.

Advocate representing the  ministers requested the Commission to dismiss the petition denying the office of profit charges and said the petition was politically motivated. The ministers argued that they should not be disqualified or removed from the ministry for holding a mining lease or operating a mining company as it is not construed as an office of profit.

Following the petition forwarded by Governor H R Bhardwaj—based on a complaint lodged by Kondaiah—the ECI has started hearing the case. As all the three ministers are directors of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), Kondaiah in his petition sought their disqualification as legislators for using “political positions to further their business interests.”

The other charges against the ministers  inlcude “conflicts of interest”,  “misuse of office to get pecuniary gain” and “allegiance to foreign countries.”