Illegal mining : More arrests likely in Andhra, says Hegde

FP Staff September 5, 2011, 11:27:39 IST

In the wake of the arrest of former minister and mining baron G Janardhan Reddy, former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde said several more arrests related to illegal mining are likely in Andhra Pradesh, but not Karnataka.

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Illegal mining : More arrests likely in Andhra, says Hegde

In the wake of the Bellary mining scandal and the arrest of  former minister and mining baron G Janardhan Reddy, former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said  several more arrests related to illegal mining are likely in Andhra Pradesh.

The Central Bureau of Investigation  on Monday arrested former Karnataka tourism minister  G Janardhana Reddy after conducting raids at his Bellary residence. Janardhana Reddy has been arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating. Srinivas Reddy — the managing director of Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) which is owned by the former minister — has also been arrested. There are allegations of irregularities in the mining activities of OMC which is owned by the brothers — G Karunakara Reddy, G Janardhana Reddy, G Somashekara Reddy.

Though Reddy was among those indicted by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted to the government on 27 July, Hegde maintains that the arrests have not been made on the basis of his reports, but because the CBI has been probing the case of illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh for several years now.

When asked about the basis of the arrests, Santosh Hegde said that after the death of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy , the state government had asked the CBI to probe illegal mining in the state. However, the investigation could not be carried out in Karnataka as the state government has not permitted the investigation agency to do so.   “CBI has been  investigating illegalities in Andhra Pradesh where the mining lease has been granted by the Andhra government.”  He added that he had mentioned in his report about the illegal activities of Obalapuram Mining Company in Karnataka without obtaining any mining lease.

Obulapuram Mining Corporation is located on the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

He further said that the Reddy brothers are very closely connected to Jagan Mohan Reddy and more arrests are likely in Andhra Pradesh.

Watch video: I don’t welcome the arrest , but those who have committed illegality, must face consequences.

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