CBI files chargesheet against OMC accused

HYDERABAD: After a year-long probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday filed a 186-page chargesheet in the illegal iron ore mining case. The main accused in the case are former Karnataka minister and Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) director Gali Janardhan Reddy, his brother-in-law and OMC managing director BV Srinivas Reddy, former mines and geology director VD Rajagopal and the then Anantapur mines and geology assistant director late R Linga Reddy.The accused have been charged under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy),  420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of IPC and Section 13(2)r/w 13 (1) (d) (criminal misconduct) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Though suspended IAS officer Y Srilakshmi was arrested in the case, her name did not figure in the chargesheet filed by the CBI. Her name is likely to be included in the supplementary chargesheet to be filed later after further investigation.In the chargesheet, the CBI reportedly accused mining baron Janardhan Reddy and his brother-in-law Srinivas Reddy of violating the rules and regulations in getting lease and mining iron ore at Anthar Gangamma Konda (AGK). Rajagopal and Linga Reddy were charged with assisting Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy in illegal mining.The OMC had illegally exported 60 lakh tonnes of iron ore to foreign countries. It had also  violated the Central government norms and regulations in iron ore exports. The illegal mining and export of iron ore by the OMC had caused a revenue loss of crores to the exchequer.  It has been established that Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy entered into a criminal conspiracy with Rajgopal, Linga Reddy and other bureaucrats. In the CBI chargesheet, there are 201 witnesses. It contains 607 documents running into more than 50,000 pages and several material objects. The CBI also filed two cases against Deccan Mining Company and Associated Mining Company in connection with the illegal mining of OMC in Bangalore. Now, the CBI is set to focus on foreign investments made by Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy.