The Samaj Parivarthan Samudaya (SPS), petitioner in the cases of illegal mining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday claimed that “a conglomeration of forces originating from Karnataka” at the Centre had “influenced” Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and hence, G. Janardhan Reddy, who is accused in the case of illegal mining and transportation of iron ore, secured bail.
Mr. Reddy got bail in an illegal mining case involving the Obulapuram Mining Company on Tuesday, which paves way for him to walk out of prison after 41 months. Vishnu Kamath and S.R. Hiremath, petitioners in the case, further alleged that keeping the posts held by Hitendra, DIG and Head of Karnataka CBI, and V.V. Lakshmi Naryana, Joint Director for CBI in Andhra Pradesh, vacant (after their transfers) and replacing them with lower-rung CBI officials, had hampered investigations in the case. Mr. Reddy got his first conditional bail on August 6, 2014 by the CBI Court in the case of Associated Mining Company owned by him and his spouse as lower-rung CBI officials’ appeal to object to the bail was turned down by the CBI Delhi headquarters, they alleged. “Local CBI officials were put to embarrassment in the court when they objected to bail application of Reddy in subsequent cases as no objection was raised in the first case,” Mr. Hiremath said.
They also alleged that Mr. Reddy started getting bail in the cases after the BJP came to power at the Centre and raised questions over the role played by Ranjit Sinha, Director of CBI, who retired in December 2014.
