Reddy taken to Bangalore court

Former Karnataka Tourism Minister and an accused in the mining scam Gali Janardhan Reddy was taken to Bangalore on Thursday by road amid heavy security in the wake of warrant issued by a Karnataka court, officials said. Reddy who has been under judicial remand since September 5 and lodged at Chanchalguda Central Prison here was taken to Bangalore by a mini bus at around 17.35 pm, they said.

“Reddy had sought to be shifted by air in view of security reasons...However, he is being taken by road to Bangalore by the Chanchalguda authorities and will be produced before a court there tomorrow,” a senior jail official told PTI.

A warrant issued by special court for CBI cases in Bangalore required Reddy to be produced before it on March 2 in connection with illegal mining activity by Associated Mining Company (AMC), according to officials. Earlier in the day, Reddy had moved a petition through his counsel in the Special Court for CBI cases urging the court to direct Chanchalguda jail authorities to shift him to Bangalore by air in view of safety consideration and long distance at his “own cost”.

However, the court left it to the Chanchalguda jail authorities to decide stating that the petition may be considered if shiting by air is not prohibited under the AP Jail Rules or under any other law. The CBI in Karnataka had filed an FIR against 21 persons, including Gali Janardhan Reddy, his wife Aruna, former minister and Congress leader V Muniyappa and others in connection with illegal mining.