CBI quizzes Karunakara Reddy in illegal mining case

After being summoned, Karunakara Reddy, a former Director of OMC and brother of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, this morning appeared before the Central agency at its office here, where officials started questioning him in the alleged illegal mining case.
The agency continued interrogation of Janardhan Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director of OMC - both under arrest - for the fourth consecutive day in presence of their counsels, officials said.

The CBI had yesterday also questioned Gali Somsekhar Reddy, MLA from Karnataka and another brother of Janardhan Reddy, in the same case.

Meanwhile, the Special CBI Court today directed that Janardhana and Srinivas Reddy be given minimum facilities at the place where they are lodged after their day-long interrogation.

The counsel of both Reddys had yesterday filed a petition in the court alleging that their clients were being questioned by CBI in late night hours and sought minimum facilities for them after completion of their questioning.

CBI officials also continued the examination of former Director of Mines and Geology (Andhra Pradesh) V D Rajagopal in connection with the mining case.

The court had on Tuesday last dismissed the bail pleas of Janardhan and Srinivas Reddy, and ordered that they be handed over to the investigating agency for their custodial investigation till September 19.

The Reddy duo was arrested on September 5 by a CBI team from Bellary in Karnataka after searches were conducted at their premises in connection with the alleged illegal mining activities.

The CBI had registered a case against OMC on December 7, 2009 at the request of Andhra Pradesh government in the wake of allegations of illegal mining and irregularities in allotment of mining leases to the company in Obulapuram and Malpanagudi villages in Anantapur district of the state.

Three mining leases were granted to OMC and another one to Anantapur Mining Corporation, both owned by Janardhana Reddy,a former Karnataka Minister.
The Reddy brothers and their confidant B Sriramulu were not included in the Cabinet led by new Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda in the wake of their names figuring in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.