: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the bail plea filed by ex-Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy.){kind=link}
New Delhi (ILNS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the bail plea filed by ex-Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy.
The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R. Subhash Reddy heard the bail application of Reddy. ASG Madhavi Divan, representing the investigating agency, told the Supreme Court that Reddy has filed multiple petitions, adding that in 2019, when Reddy was granted bail, conditions were set that he will not enter three districts, including Bellary.
The counsel for the Andhra Pradesh government stated: “Witnesses under police protection have been threatened, vehicles set on fire. There are 47 witnesses. We don’t know what will happen if this gentleman is allowed to enter the area.” The state government has further called for the vacating of stay on the trial.
One after the other the co-accused go to courts and get stays, said the government counsel. “How can we conduct trial?”
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Janardhana Reddy, however, denied the allegations and said: “Allegation is wrong. I have not sought any stay, no discharge application for the last five years.” He further claimed that there are multiple accused and he cannot be blamed when the other accused goes to the court.
The Supreme Court has allowed the government to file a detailed affidavit on the issue. Time has been granted to the CBI to file a detailed reply. The next hearing is slated for December.
In August, this year, the Supreme Court had allowed Gali Janardhana Reddy to visit Bellary in Karnataka, for two days to attend the last rite ceremony of his close associate’s mother with police protection. Janardhana Reddy was arrested by the CBI on September 5, 2011 for his involvement in illegal mining of iron ore.