SC refuses to grant bail to ex-minister Gali Reddy

The Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to Karnataka's former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in the illegal mining case against his Obulapuram Mining Company.

A bench of justices H L Dattu and M Y Eqbal refused to entertain the bail request made by senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing Janardhana Reddy.

The court’s decision came after it was pointed out that another bench presided over by Justice C K Prasad had, on August 26, asked the CBI to submit a status report with regard to pending investigation into the similar charges against the OMC and the accused in Karnataka.

In the submission, Kumar claimed that more than 730 days after the surrender of the accused, the CBI still claimed to be continuing investigation against Reddy. He said that the CBI had been asked to submit details of the progress of investigation with regard to Karnataka in the apex court.

“Since you are a common factor in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, let us first see the CBI statement. Post the matter after that case,” the court said.

Reddy filed a special leave petition challenging Andhra Pradesh High Court order passed on June 20 this year. The high court had rejected a plea made by Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivsas Reddy, a co-accused.