Opposing the fresh bail pleas of former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday alleged that the two were main culprits in the Obulapuram Mining Company mining scam.

The CBI, which filed its written submissions against the bail pleas in the special court, contended that further investigation in the OMC case was underway, and witnesses were under round-the-clock protection.

"The role of the accused was nothing but economic terrorism," the CBI alleged, adding that that the accused, if released, may threaten the witnesses or tamper with the evidence.

"These people are resorting to economic terrorism...they are no less than hardcore criminals," the agency said.

The CBI, which is probing illegal mining and irregularities in allotment of mining leases to OMC, had arrested Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy in September.

Reddys' previous bail plea has been rejected. The fresh plea contends that there is no prospect of immediate trial in the case till the prosecution (CBI) obtains sanction to prosecute senior IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, the fourth accused in the OMC case, and that they cannot be detained in judicial custody for no fault of theirs.

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against Janardhan Reddy and four others in the case on December 3.