Bellary ministers question EC notices

Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar also gave 10 more days for the minister to reply to the notice issued by the ECI based on the Kondaiah’s complaint forwarded by the Governor of Karnataka for its opinion.

Congress MLC Kondaiah had filed a complaint with the Governor against Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy, his brother and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy and Health Minister B Sreeramulu, under Article 192(2) of the Constitution (relating to disqualification) on June 3. 

The Congress leader, in his complaint, had sought the Reddy brothers' disqualification, charging that as ministers, there was a conflict of interest with them having business interests in mining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Governor forwarded the complaint to the ECI on June 3.

Based on the letter, the ECI had issued notices to the three ministers asking them to reply by July 15. Reddy argued that the notice was based on a false complaint and the Obulapuram Mining Company was based in Andhra Pradesh whereas he was a member of the Karnataka Assembly. Hence, the question of disqualification did not arise, he contended. Janardhan Reddy and Sreeramulu have also filed writ petitions. The hearing is slated for Tuesday.

Anticipatory bail
Abdul Nazir Madani, the leader of Kerala’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed an anticipatory bail application in the High Court on Monday. Madani is one of the accused in the June 2008 serial blasts case in Bangalore.

The application came after the fifth fast track court refused to entertain his anticipatory bail application on July 9 and it will come up for hearing on Wednesday.

The PDP leader has sought anticipatory bail in view of the Bangalore police filing an additional chargesheet on June 11 listing him as the 31st accused in the blast cases.
He was charged with visiting Laggeri in Somawarpet taluk in Kodagu district and participating in the conspiracy to commit the offence. Bangalore police maintain that they have enough evidence against Madani in the case. Twelve of the 32 chargesheeted are absconding.

In his petition, Madani contended that there was no prima facie evidence that he was involved in the blasts. He also stated that his travel programme from 2007 were recorded by the Kerala police and it clearly showed that he was not in Kodagu as recorded by the Karnataka police.