Obulapuram Mining Scam: Judicial Closure Achieved After 14 Years

In the world of Karnataka politics and mining, the law was finally brought Gali Janardhana Reddy to his knees who used to be called the king of Bellary. In the illegal mining scam associated with the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

Edited By: Nishchay

Last Updated : 06 May 2025, 08:45 PM IST

Janardhana Reddy

National News:In the world of Karnataka politics and mining, the law was finally brought Gali Janardhana Reddy to his knees who used to be called the king of Bellary. In the illegal mining scam associated with the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), a special CBI court on Tuesday sentenced him to seven years and fined ₹ 10,000.This is not only the defeat of a politician, but the decisive victory of the law clashed with the system.

How to expose: Bellary scam was echoing from forest to Delhi

Between 2007 and 2009, in the Bellary Reserve Forest, spread over the border of Karnataka-Andhra, the OMC carried out illegal mining by tampering with the boundaries of mining leases.CBI investigation revealed that the government treasury lost ₹ 884 crore due to this scam.The first charge sheet was filed against him in 2011 and after that the supplementary charge sheet was presented three times.

Four people were convicted in this case:

Gali Janardhana Reddy - Former Minister, OMC Director
Srinivas Reddy - OMC MD
VD Rajagopal - The then Assistant Director of Mines Department
Mahfooz Ali Khan - Private Assistant of Reddy

At the same time, the court held former minister Sabita Indra Reddy and former IAS B.K. Kripanandam was acquitted due to lack of evidence.Telangana High Court in November 2022, senior officer Y. Srilakshmi was also given relief.

Alliance of power, mining and corruption broken

This case was not just of illegal mining - it was the story of the black coalition of politics, bureaucracy and business where mines of notes were made by ripping the forests.
But the court showed that even if the decision is late, there is definitely justice.

There is no bigger than the law

On behalf of CBI, lawyers Indrajit Santoshi and Vishnu Majji handled the entire case firmly. As soon as the court ruled, the CBI immediately took all the convicts into custody.

This decision of justice is an example

The soil of Bellary is witness today of the day when a businessman-consentor got up from the corridors of power and bowed down to the law.It is not just a punishment, it is a warning - whether mining or governance, no one above the law.