Illegal mining: CBI formally charges Janardhan, Srinivas Reddy

The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed charges against Gali Janardhan Reddy, a former Karnataka minister and perceived kingpin of illegal iron ore mining in southern states, and his brother in law B V Srinivas Reddy.

The duo has been behind bars in judicial custody for almost three months now. The official chargesheet filed in a special CBI court in Hyderabad involves alleged illegal mining by the Obulapuram Mining Co (OMC), owned by Janardhan Reddy. Srinivas Reddy is the managing director.

The chargesheet also includes former director of mines and geology (Andhra Pradesh) V D Rajagopal, CBI joint director (Hyderabad Zone) V V Lakshmi Narayana told reporters in Hyderabad.

OMC is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and indulging in illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area between Bellary district of Karnataka and Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh.

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

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official Y Srilakshmi, who was released on bail Friday, did not figure in the chargesheet. The CBI is yet to get permission from the union government, without which senior administrative officials cannot be prosecuted.