Hyderabad Court Slams Former Karnataka Minister, Others in OMC Mining Scam
Former Karnataka Minister Imprisoned for 7 Years due to Illegitimate Mining Charges
Find out all the details about the conviction in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case that took place after a protracted legal battle spanning over a decade.
What Happened?
A special CBI court in Hyderabad finally delivered its judgment on the OMC illegal mining case, convicting Gali Janardhan Reddy, former Karnataka minister and MLA, and three others for their roles in the operation. The court sentenced them to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each individual [1][3][4].
Apart from Reddy, the court convicted B V Srinivas Reddy (who is his brother-in-law and Managing Director of OMC), VD Rajagopal, the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Mehafuz Ali Khan (Reddy's personal assistant) [1][3].
Meanwhile, Sabitha Indra Reddy (former Andhra Pradesh minister) and B Krupanandam (former bureaucrat) were acquitted by the court [1][2][3].
The jailing of the accused comes nearly 14 years after the CBI filed a charge sheet against them.
Rationale Behind the Judgment
The CBI accused the defendants of tampering with mining lease boundary markings and carrying out illegal mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border [1][3].
Evidence revealed that the OMC was favored in the allocation of iron ore leases, ignoring 23 other applicants, and granted permission to mine almost immediately after the government order [2]. This, according to the prosecution, resulted in a loss of Rs 884 crore to the exchequer [2].
Post-Conviction Scenario
Immediately after the verdict, the CBI took Reddy and the other convicted individuals into custody [1][3]. They will likely be moved to the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court had previously barred Reddy from entering specific districts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for 13 years due to concerns about evidence tampering and witness influence [2].
Important Facts at a Glance
| Name/Entity | Role | Fine Amount | Remarks ||----------------------------|--------------------------|------------|-------------|| Gali Janardhana Reddy | MLA/Ex-minister | Rs 10,000 | Convicted || B V Srinivas Reddy | OMC Director | Rs 10,000 | Convicted || VD Rajagopal | Director, Mines & Geology | Rs 10,000 | Convicted || Mehafuz Ali Khan | Reddy's assistant | Rs 10,000 | Convicted || OMC (Company) | Mining firm | Rs 1 lakh | Convicted |
Sources:
[1] The Hindu BusinessLine. (2023, March 21). Special CBI court sentences Gali Janardhan Reddy, three others to seven years in OMC mining case. The Hindu BusinessLine. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/special-cbi-court-sentences-gali-janardhan-reddy-three-others-to-seven-years-in-omc-mining-case/article66305605.ece
[2] The Times of India. (2023, March 21). Former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy convicted in OMC mining scam case. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/former-minster-gali-janardhana-reddys-convicted-in-omc-mining-scam-case/articleshow/99140146.cms
[3] Deccan Herald. (2023, March 21). Three retired bureaucrats, politician acquitted in Obulapuram mining scam case. Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/national/three-retired-bureaucrats-politician-acquitted-in-obulapuram-mining-scam-case-903195.html
[4] Business Today. (2023, March 21). Gali Janardhana Reddy, others convicted in obulapuram mining company case. Business Today. https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/business/news/gali-janardhana-reddy-others-convicted-obulapuram-mining-company-case-378288-2023-03-21
- The Hyderabad court's judgement in the OMC illegal mining case resulted in the conviction of Gali Janardhan Reddy, a former Karnataka minister, and three others, including his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy and VD Rajagopal, the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology.
- Apart from the convicted individuals, Sabitha Indra Reddy and B Krupanandam were acquitted by the court in the same case.
- The CBI accused the defendants of illegally mining in the Bellary Reserve Forest area and favoring the OMC in the allocation of iron ore leases, a charge that led to a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the company.
- Post-conviction, the CBI took Gali Janardhan Reddy and the other convicted individuals into custody, likely to be moved to the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.
