A special court here Friday rejected the petition of former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy for two days’ interim bail to attend his mother’s death anniversary ceremony at Bellary.
The mining baron, a key accused in the illegal mining case, wanted the special court dealing with the CBI cases to send him to Bellary with police escort so that he can attend the rituals and related charity programmes Dec 31 and Jan 1.
Judge Naga Murthy Sarma, however, rejected the petition for the escort bail.
The CBI counsel told the court that the accused might misuse his temporary liberty, intimidate the witnesses and influence the investigations.
The investigating agency brought to the court’s notice that the former minister’s supporters erected his huge cut-outs in Bellary and kept hundreds of vehicles ready to welcome him even before the court granted him bail.
CBI counsel also claimed that Janardhana Reddy is in possession of several fake passports and he could even flee the country. He argued that Janardhana Reddy being the younger son need not be present at the ceremony.
The special court posted to Jan 5 the hearing on the fourth bail petitions of Janardhana Reddy and his brother-in-law B.V. Srinivasa Reddy.
The court has dismissed three bail petitions of the mining baron and his brother-in-law since they were arrested by the CBI on Sep 5. They are currently lodged in Chanchalguda Central Jail here.
The arrests were made in connection with the 2009 case registered by the CBI against Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Janardhana Reddy for illegal iron ore mining in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Srinivasa Reddy is the managing director of the firm.
