A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court on Friday granted bail to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official Y. Srilakshmi in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case, a day after she was sent to judicial custody. The company belongs to former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy, arrested from Bellary in Karnataka Sep 5.
Special Court Judge B. Naga Maruti Sarma directed Srilakshmi, under suspension, to give two sureties each of Rs.25,000. Her lawyer V. Surender Rao told reporters that she was also asked to deposit her passport with the officials and make herself available to the CBI for investigations.
The official, who was family welfare commissioner at the time of her arrest on Nov 28, was also directed by the court not to tamper with the evidence. The judge also made it clear that in case of violation of the bail conditions, the bail would be cancelled. The IAS official remained in CBI custody for three days before being sent to judicial custody Thursday. The same day she was suspended by the state government.
A CBI special court on Friday granted bail to Y Srilakshmi in the Obulapuram mining case.
Srilakshmi, who was remanded to judicial custody till Dec 12, sought bail on health grounds. The court on Thursday rejected the appeal by the 1988-batch IAS officer that she be allowed to stay in the CBI office in view of her health problems. The CBI later shifted Srilakshmi to Chanchalgunda women’s prison.
Her lawyer said besides health problems, we also pleaded for bail on the ground that she being a woman was entitled for bail under section 437 of Criminal Procedure Code.
The CBI opposed the bail petition saying she might tamper with the evidence as she is an IAS officer and her husband M. Gopalakrishna is an officer of the Indian Police Service. The agency also told the court that the health records presented by the accused were false.
The IAS officer was secretary industries in Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government when OMC was granted iron ore mining lease. The officer is facing charges of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust by a public servant.
Co-accused and OMC managing director B.V. Srinivasa Reddy was arrested from Bellary in Karnataka Sep 5. Former mines director V.D. Rajagopal was arrested on Nov 13.
