Chargesheet nails Gali's mine loot

SHIVAKUMAR G. MALAGI | DC BELLARY, AUG. 7

 2013





The CBI investigating the illegal export of 50 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore from the Belekeri port of Karwar has named former minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy as the prime accused along with six others in its first chargesheet filed against the firm, M/s S B Logistics.Accusing the mining baron turned politician of misusing his position as Bellary districtincharge minister from June 9 to August 25, 2011 to obtain undue financial gain through illegal mining and transportation of iron ore from Belekeri and other ports, the CBI said he had supplied 6.05 lakh metric tonnes of illegal ore to M/s Eagle Traders and Logistics that Kudligi MLA, B Nagendra is a partner in and received Rs 198 crore in return.
“There are no records to show that he had taken any steps to curb illegal mining as per the proceedings of the District Task Force meetings. He is the major beneficiary of illegal mining that was carried out in Bellary district during the relevant period,” the chargesheet said, adding that the former minister had directed the now jailed forest
officers, S Muthaiah and Manoj Kumar Shukla to remove the checkposts at Halkundi on the AndhraKarnataka border to enable the illegal transportation of iron ore using fake Andhra Pradesh permits.He also ordered officials of the mines and geology and forest departments not to issue permits to mine owners who did not allow him to carry out illegal mining in their areas or stock illegal iron ore in their stockyards, the CBI claimed.
The chargesheet said that Mr Reddy had imposed a virtual ban on the renewal of mining leases by the authorities without his consent and allowed it only if the owners accepted his demands of sharing the extracted iron ore. The former minister is accused of blocking opportunities for mine owners to operate legally to compel them to succumb to his methods.