CBI officials today questioned Karnataka ministers Janardhana Reddy and Sreeramulu over alleged illegal mining activities by a company owned by them in the state and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
A 11-member CBI team visited Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by tourism minister Janardhana Reddy’s brother revenue minister Karunakara Reddy, as part of the probe into alleged illegal mining activities.
The agency sleuths conducted searches at the Ennoble India company, a chit firm owned by Janardhana Reddy, which has now become defunct and reportedly seized some documents, CDs and two computers, police said. The team, which questioned Janardhana Reddy and health minister Sreeramulu, visited five mining companies in Bellary, but details of documents seized were not available immediately.
Meanwhile, Janardhana alleged it was a conspiracy by the Congress which had led to the CBI probe.
“They (Congress) are troubling us. They are trying to create problems for the BJP government in Karnataka,” he told reporters here.
The CBI team, which arrived here last night, questioned OMC employees at its office in Havambhavi area and later visited Janardhana Reddy’s residence. The Centre had ordered the CBI probe into alleged illegal mining at Andhra Pradesh government’s request. The Reddy brothers are also under Supreme Court’s scanner over mining activities in parts of Karnataka bordering Andhra Pradesh, where they hold three mining licences.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has ruled out ordering a CBI probe into the alleged illegal mining and sacking the three ministers, who had rebelled against him recently before the BJP central leadership stepped in to bring about a truce.
A Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, had concluded that OMC was carrying out “illegal” iron ore mining on the Andhra Pradesh - Karnataka border. Forest clearances of some firms, including OMC, have been suspended by the Centre on grounds of illegal mining in six mines in Andhra Pradesh.
