Judicial custody of Janardhana Reddy extended till May 23

Additional Civil and Sessions Court Judge and CBI special court incharge judge Shankaralinge Gowda passed the order after the CBI moved an application seeking extension of the custody.

Reddy and Khan, lodged in Bangalore central prison, were produced in the court via video-conferencing.

Associated Mining Corporation (AMC) and Deccan Mining Syndicate (DMC) owned by Reddy and his wife Aruna Lakshmi have been facing probe over charges of illegal mining.

Two other officials accused in the case, S Muthaiah, the then Deputy Conservator of Forest in Bellary District (seventh accused in the case), Government of Karnataka and S P Raju, the then Deputy Director of Mines and Geology department at Hospet in Bellary district, who were arrested by CBI on April 30, were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody till May 23.

Meanwhile, hearing on the bail pleas of Reddy and Khan were adjourned to May 23.