HC takes up Telangana govt plea for harsher penalty in Obulapuram illegal mining case

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court issued notices to Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) on a State government appeal seeking an enhanced penalty in the illegal mining case that saw former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and others sentenced earlier this year.

Notice issued

A single-judge bench of Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Wednesday directed notices to OMC, represented by its Director Bovilla Venkata Srinivasa Reddy.

The appeal was moved by the State of Telangana through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and argued by Special Public Prosecutor Srinivas Kapatia.

Trial court verdict

On May 6, the Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases at Nampally convicted Gali Janardhan Reddy, OMC’s then Managing Director BV Srinivasa Reddy, former Andhra Pradesh Mines and Geology Director VD Rajagopal, and then Deputy Director K Mefaz Ali Khan.

They were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and cheating under Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC and were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each. The trial court had also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on OMC.

State’s contention

The Telangana Government has argued that the fine imposed on OMC was grossly inadequate, given the gravity of the offences and the extent of illegal mining. Through the present appeal, it has sought an enhanced monetary penalty against the company.

The High Court has posted the case for further hearing on September 17 after issuing notices to the accused firm.