Dharwad bench of Karnataka HC dismisses Reddy`s bail plea

Dharwad bench of Karnataka High Court dismissed bail petition filed by former minister G Janardhana Reddy in connection with illegal mining case involving Associated Mining Company.

Dharwad: The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition filed by mining baron and former minister G Janardhana Reddy in connection with the illegal mining case involving Associated Mining Company in which he is the main accused. Justice H N Nagamohan Das dismissed the bail petition on the grounds that the accused if granted bail may interfere with the ongoing investigation by the CBI.

During the hearing of the petition on November 21, senior counsel representing CBI, Ashok Bhan had submitted that the petitioner was "interfering in the day to day administration of justice and was also threatening some witnesses". Senior counsel for Reddy, C V Nagesh contended that so far as the documents filed by the CBI yesterday are concerned, there is no allegation against the respondent and what has been pointed out is only "anticipation of threat". "There is no actual threat but they are only anticipating that the respondent might threaten the witnesses," he said. Nagesh submitted further investigation that is pending is only against the then Deputy Conservator of Forest, Bellary district, S Muthaiah and then Director Mines and Geology S P Raju in connection with the alleged theft of iron ore in Belekeri port and not in this matter. After completion of arguments, the court had reserved its verdict on the bail petition on November 21. Reddy had approached the High Court after his bail plea was rejected by the CBI court in September. Bail petitions of his close aide Mehfuz Ali Khan, Muthaiah, and Raju, the other accused in the case, have already been rejected by the High Court. Janardhana Reddy and Mehfuz Ali Khan are at present lodged in Chanchalaguda jail in Hyderabad. PTI