The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday informed a local court that it was ready for trial in the Obulapuram Mining Company illegal mining case involving former Karnataka Tourism Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and others.
The central agency which filed a chargesheet in the case against Reddy, who owns Obulapuram Mining Company and four others on December 3, informed the Special Court for CBI cases that it would submit a copy of the chargesheet to the Supreme Court on December 20.
These submissions were made by CBI Deputy Legal Advisor B Ravindranath before the court while opposing the bail petition of former director of mining and geology V D Rajagopal, an accused in the OMC scam.
Meanwhile Janardhan Reddy again moved the local court seeking bail on Tuesday, the fourth time since his arrest on September 5.
Janardhan Reddy in his fresh bail plea contended that investigation against him has been completed and a chargesheet filed in the OMC case.
"We are ready for trial in the OMC case and for examination of witnesses in the case. A copy of chagesheet in the OMC case will be submitted to the Supreme Court on December 20," Ravindranath said.
Opposing Rajagopal's bail plea, the CBI counsel alleged that witnesses were being threatened by his men and apprehended that Rajagopal may influence the witnesses and tamper with the evidence if released on bail.
Rajagopal's counsel, however, contended that there was no chance of tampering with evidence when CBI had already filed a chargesheet and seized records in the OMC case. He requested the court to grant bail to his client to enable him to look after his mother who was not doing well.
After hearing the arguments and counter arguments on the bail plea, the court reserved for tomorrow its orders in the matter.
The CBI on December 3 filed its chargesheet in the OMC case against Reddy, who is also director of the mining company, his brother-in-law and OMC Managing Director B V Srinivas Reddy, V D Rajagopal, the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology late R Linga Reddy and the OMC.
The Supreme Court had in September this year expanded the CBI probe into the "illegal" mining and wanted the central agency to probe the "linkage" between mining activities in
Karnataka's Bellary district and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh allegedly involving the Reddy brothers.
The court had said CBI investigation was needed as it was prima facie satisfied with the material placed before it that the iron ore extracted by two companies, Associated Mining Company and Deccan Mining Syndicate, was being illegally routed through Obulapuram in Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Reddy further submitted that the prosecution case is based on documentary and oral evidence mostly of public servants and there is no scope for tampering with prosecution witnesses.
"There need not be any apprehension that the petitioner (Janardhan Reddy) will flee from justice as he has deep roots in the society as he is a legislator and a former minister," Reddy's counsel submitted.
