The 2011 Obulapuram mining case which became a topic of discussion after the death of YS Rajasekhar Reddy has finally witnessed the final judgement today.
The CBI Principal Special Judge’s Court in Hyderabad on Tuesday convicted mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy and several of his associates in the Obulapuram Mining Company case, sentencing them to seven years in prison for illegal iron ore mining in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Alongside Reddy, the court also handed seven-year jail terms to former Director of Mines and Geology V.D. Rajagopal, OMC Managing Director B.V. Srinivasa Reddy, and Reddy’s personal assistant Mehfuz Ali. The court held that they were directly involved in large-scale illegal mining operations that caused substantial loss to the public exchequer.
However, the court acquitted then Mines Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and former IAS officer Kripanandam, citing lack of evidence to prove their involvement in the conspiracy.