The CBI on Tuesday informed a local court that it was ready for trial in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) 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 here 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 VD Rajagopal, an accused in the OMC scam.
"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.
{{/usCountry}}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.
{{/usCountry}}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 BV Srinivas Reddy, VD Rajagopal, the then Assistant Director of Mines and Geology late R Linga Reddy and the OMC.
The Supreme Court in September this year had 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 materials placed before it that the iron ore extracted by two companied, Associated Mining Company (AMC) and Deccan Mining Syndicate (DMS), was being illegally routed through Obulapuram in Andhra Pradesh.