The former Minister and mining baron, G. Janardhan Reddy, who has been maintaining a low profile since he was released on bail after three years in jail, may be in for fresh trouble.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Lokayukta, probing export of illegally mined ore from Belekeri port, has started probe into cases involving Mr. Janardhan Reddy. The SIT questioned the former Minister in connection with multiple cases last weekend.
While only one FIR has been filed naming Mr. Janardhan Reddy as an accused, SIT has been probing his role in a host of other cases as well. The former Minister secured an interim anticipatory bail in one of the cases, where the FIR named him as an accused. He presented himself before the Superintendent of Police Manjunath Annigeri and cooperated with the probe, one of the conditions of the anticipatory bail, according to sources.
The SIT that has been tasked with the probe of cases where the export of iron ore from Belekeri port is less than 50,000 tonnes, has in the last six months arrested most of the traders in iron ore, including two MLAs and other close aides of Mr. Janardhan Reddy.
Though Mr. Janardhan Reddy was not on record running any trading firm that has exported ore from the Belekeri port, the SIT is considering indicting him on charges of being the source for the illegally mined ore that was illegally exported from the port, sources said.
Sources in the SIT said that Mr. Reddy may be arrested in connection with other cases, where the origin of the ore is traced back to him though the FIR does not name him as an accused.
Charan Reddy, heading the SIT, said that while Mr. Janardhan Reddy has secured an interim bail in one case, his role was being probed in other cases as well.
The former Minister may be arrested in connection with other cases, where the origin of the ore is traced back to him
