Mining scam: CBI chargesheet against Reddy's assistant

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against K Mehfuz Ali Khan, an accused in the Obulapuram Mining Company scam involving jailed former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.

Khan, the personal assistant of Reddy and the seventh accused in the OMC case, who is presently under judicial remand, has been charged with offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating by the CBI in the chargesheet filed in a special CBI court.

The 75-page chargesheet cites 70 documents and 25 witnesses.

The central agency had earlier named mining baron Janardhan Reddy, his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy (both arrested on September 5 last from Bellary and lodged in a jail) and three others including the mining firm in its first chargesheet filed in December 2011 and charged them under relevant sections of IPC.

It later added the name of suspended IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, and a charge sheet was filed against her in March last year.

The CBI had earlier accused Khan of not only facilitating the offence but of also being a partner in the acts of the main accused (Reddys) in illegal mining, adding "There is ample proof and documentary evidence to show the active involvement of Khan in the offences."

Khan, also an accused in the Associated Mining Company scam along with Janardhan Reddy and others, was brought to Hyderabad on September 25 last year and is under judicial remand.

He had earlier surrendered before a court in Bangalore on March 2 last year.