Mining report key to GJR's arrest

The Karnataka Lokayukta report, it appears, has played a key role in the arrest of Gali Janardhana Reddy (GJR) and Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of Oblupuram Mining Company (OMC).

While the CBI received former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde’s report in a CD in August, they got the annexure, including the U V Singh report, a few days before Reddy was arrested.

The CBI arrested Janardhana and Srinivas Reddy last week based on their investigation pertaining to illegal mining and export of iron ore in Andhra Pradesh and have been seeking their custody.

Taking the investigation further, the CBI had earlier said it will extend its probe to Karnataka, given the links Reddy and his associates have in the State. The investigating agency is doing everything to tighten the screws around Reddy and his associates, in line with the AP government’s intent on establishing the involvement of the Reddys and their associates in illegal export of ore and misuse of licences granted by the Andhra government.

‘Helped in linking’

Speaking from Hyderabad, CBI Joint Director (Hyderabad Zone) V V Lakshminarayana told  Deccan Herald: “After having studied the Karnataka Lokayukta report, we have been able to establish the connection between the Reddys and the illegal export of iron ore from AP.”

The CBI on Friday had argued that while OMC had exported about 29 lakh tonnes of ore from Andhra Pradesh only four lakh tonnes was mined from AP. The Lokayukta report has provided the CBI with enough evidence that Reddy and his company mined illegally in Karnataka without obtaining any licences for the same.

Solid investigation

“In order to establish where the remaining ore came from, it was essential that we look into the company’s activity in the neighbouring state. And with the Lokayukta having done substantial investigation into the matter, we sought that report too,” a source from the CBI said.

On whether the officials from Karnataka could be questioned in the matter, Lakshminarayana said: “Our investigation is not about Karnataka, but if we have to find details about the ‘accused’ and their activity there, we might have to question them.”

He also said a close vigil was being kept on the other directors of OMC and associates of Reddy, including his brothers –– G Karunakara Reddy, G Somashekara Reddy, and their close associate B Sriramulu.

Karnataka Lokayukta, Shivraj Patil confirmed that the report has been handed over to the CBI.

In Karnataka though, the ruling BJP, which has found that the Lokayukta report mainly indicts people belonging to their party or its associates, is yet to take any concrete step in acting against those indicted for illegal mining, including Janardhana Reddy.

Commenting on the ‘inaction’, Chief Secretary S V Ranganath told Deccan Herald: “As per Section 12 of the Lokayukta Act, the government has three months time to accept or reject a report after receiving it. But in a week or so, you will see the State government acting on it.”

In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh government has been active in finding ways to move against the Reddys, in order to set the right precedence against all those involved in such activities.

Also, the neighbouring state’s intent revolves around the links between the Bellary Reddys and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajashekara Reddy and his rebellious son Jaganmohan Reddy.