Orders on Gali's custody, bail plea today

The CBI special court here adjourned the hearing on custody and bail petitions filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy along with Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) managing director Srinivasa Reddy to Monday as the arguments remained inconclusive even till late evening on Friday.

CBI counsel Ravindra justified their request for custody of both the accused in the alleged illegal mining and other violations committed in connection with iron ore mines located in Andhra Pradesh.

The lawyer said their custody was necessary to ascertain other details including origin of iron ore, which was falsely shown as extracted from the Obulapuram mine.

Senior Supreme Court lawyers Uday Lalit and CV Nagesh, who appeared on behalf of Reddy, questioned the grounds of arrest as well as the allegations levelled in the remand petition stating that the CBI had shifted its accusations far away from the original purpose of investigation as mentioned in the notification issued by the AP government and even from the principal allegations mentioned in its own FIR.

While the notification was issued to find out the alleged alteration of state borders involving the mining activity of OMC, the CBI in its FIR pointed out the role of unknown public servants who conspired with the company in altering the border posts to gain additional area over and above the lease area of 68.5 hectares given to it but now it questioned the grant of lease itself in the remand petition, they said.

After prolonged arguments, the judge adjourned the hearing for Monday.