Illegal mining: SC to get CBI status report on Sept 30

The Central Bureau of Investigation, probing "illegal" mining and irregularities in the allotment of mining leases to Obulapuram Mining Company, will submit a status report before the Supreme Court on September 30, a senior official said.

"A status report will be submitted to the Supreme Court on September 30 (informing it on the status of investigations into the case)," CBI Joint Director (Hyderabad zone) V V Lakshmi Narayana told the media in Hyderabad.

"The Supreme Court guidelines are very clear about investigation and on arrests, we are following it," he said. He added that the central agency was also continuing its probe in connection with the cases relating to alleged irregularities in Emaar Properties-APIIC land deal and investments made by various companies in businesses owned by Kadapa MP and YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

The CBI, which registered a case against OMC on December 7, 2009 at the request of Andhra Pradesh government, in the wake of allegations of illegal mining and irregularities in the allotment of mining leases to OMC in Obulapuram and Malpanagudi villages of Anantapur district of the state.

Former Karnataka minister Janardhana Reddy and OMC Managing Director Srinivas Reddy were arrested on September 5 from Bellary in Karnataka. The duo is under judicial custody till October 3 and lodged at Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad.

The Supreme Court on September 23 expanded the probe against Janardhana Reddy (who owns OMC), and asked the CBI to probe the "linkage" between mining activities in Bellary district and Obulapuram mines in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly involving the Reddy brothers.

The apex court also directed the CBI to file a status report before it on September 30 on the investigation conducted against the Reddy brothers in respect of alleged irregularities in mining in the OMC pursuant to the registration of a FIR.