Govt promises action against Reddy brothers

Blaming police for nonexecution of warrants issued by a court in Sandur against former minister and mining magnate G Janardhana Reddy, Karnataka government today assured the high court that action would be taken against them within a week.

In a report filed in the court in response to a PIL, Principal Home Secretary S M Jamdar said action would be taken against the concerned constable, inspector and other officials up to the level of DySP for non-execution of nine non-bailable warrants issued over a period of time. These officials had been “misleading the court, lying and committed perjury” given the fact that Reddy was present in Bellary when the warrants were issued by the Judicial Magistrate Court in Sandur in the mineral-rich district, he said. Jamdar said departmental action would be initiated against the officials within a week. 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Ashok B Inchegeri disposed off the PIL by advocate G R Mohan seeking a direction to the government and the DGP to execute the NBWs against Reddy while accusing him of flouting the directives of Sandur court by not appearing before it. The petitioner had contended that the warrants were returned, despite Reddy always being available, either in Bangalore or Bellary. He also sought a direction to the Home Secretary and DGP to ensure that warrants/summons issued by criminal courts in the state are executed promptly.

Additional Advocate General K M Nataraj assured the court that within a month the government would provide a constable each in the criminal courts in the state exclusively for execution of warrants and summons.