CBI Court rejects Gali Janardhan Reddy’s plea for special category in Chanchalguda Jail

Hyderabad: The CBI Court in Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 15, 2025, dismissed former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy’s plea seeking special category status in Chanchalguda Jail. The court ruled that convicts are not entitled to special privileges in jail. Gali Janardhan Reddy is currently serving a seven-year sentence in connection with the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case.

On May 6, the Special CBI Court convicted Gali Janardhan Reddy along with four others, V.D. Rajgopal, former Director of Mines and Geology, Andhra Pradesh; B.V. Srinivasa Reddy, then Managing Director of OMCPL, Bellary; Mehfuz Ali Khan, former partner of Devi Enterprises, Bellary; and Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt. Ltd.

The court imposed fines totaling ₹1.4 lakh, including ₹1 lakh on the company. The CBI had registered the case on December 8, 2009, alleging that the accused conspired to illegally mine iron ore by encroaching on government and private land, causing a loss of over ₹800 crore to the state exchequer. The first chargesheet was filed on December 3, 2011, followed by three supplementary chargesheets. After a prolonged trial, the court found all the accused guilty and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment.