Sreeramulu speaks up on Janardhan Reddy's arrest

Former Karnataka minister B Sreeramulu, a close associate of former minister G Janardhana Reddy, on Saturday charged the Central Bureau of Investigation with "acting in a hurry" in arresting the mining baron in an illegal mining case.

"I am confident that Janardhana Reddy will come clean of the charges of illegal mining levelled against him. The CBI acted in a great hurry in arresting Reddy. We would have cooperated in the investigation and given all necessary information if the agency had sought it," he said.

Sreeramulu, who resigned from the state assembly on September 4, asserted that there was no question of withdrawing his resignation.

Reddy is currently lodged in jail after the CBI arrested him on Monday in connection with an illegal mining case in Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy, who was a minister in the B S Yeddyurappa cabinet, was arrested by the CBI on September 5 from Bellary under the Prevention of Corruption Act after a raid on his residence.

The CBI has filed cases against Reddy and his brother-in-law Srinivasa Reddy, managing director of the family-run Obalapuram Mining Corporation in Andhra Pradesh, on the charge of illegal mining.