CBI gets custody of Gali for seven days

The CBI special court on Tuesday gave police custody of former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) managing director B Srinivasa Reddy to the investigative agency in the illegal mining and other offences alleged to have been committed by them in Andhra Pradesh.

The special court's order comes following the prolonged arguments stretching for three days on custody and bail petitions filed by the CBI and the accused respectively. The CBI had arrested them under various sections of different Acts, including Prevention of Corruption Act, Forest Act, Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act and the Indian Penal Code. Both were sent for judicial remand on September 5.

The two will be in CBI custody for seven days till September 19, which is also the last day of their judicial remand ordered earlier. The court dismissed the bail petitions filed on behalf of both the accused.

According to the orders issued by Judge Naga Maruthi Sharma, the two accused have to be produced on the last day of their custody before the court and then sent to jail under judicial remand.

After securing the warrant from the special court, the CBI took both of them to a government guest house for interrogation.

CBI joint director VV Laxminarayana, who is heading the investigation, said they would seek extension of custody if necessary. It would also be questioning others in the case, he said.