HC suspends Karnataka ex-mantri Reddy’s conviction, sentence

HYDERABAD: Telangana high court Wednesday suspended both the conviction and sentence of Karnataka former minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy in an illegal mining case while also giving him bail, an order that would save Gali's position as an MLA.Following the conviction and seven-year sentence imposed by a special CBI court, Gali stood disqualified as an MLA and the election authorities would have held a bypoll soon for his seat (Gangavathi).Agreeing with the arguments of the legislator's lawyer, senior counsel S Nagamuthun, that damages from the conviction were irreversible, Justice K Lakshman also ordered his release from jail with certain conditions.

Gali was told not to leave the country or commit unlawful acts anywhere and to furnish two sureties worth Rs 10 lakh. He has already served half of the seven-year sentence while being a remand prisoner.Along with Gali, three other individuals – BV Srinivas Reddy (Obulapuram Mining Company MD), VD Rajagopal (former director, AP mines and geology department) and Mehfuz Ali Khan (PA to Gali) – and one entity, the company OMC, were convicted by the special CBI court last month.

On Tuesday, apart from Gali, Justice Lakshman stayed the conviction of the entity OMC.The judge also granted bail to the other three with the same conditions. The criminal appeals of these three against their conviction will be heard on Aug 11.Srilakshmi issue to be heard on June 19The judge also sought a counter from the CBI in the criminal revision plea filed by senior IAS officer and former AP industries secretary Y Srilakshmi and posted her case to June 19.The HC had earlier discharged her from the case but the CBI had appealed in the Supreme Court, which directed the HC to hear the CBI version also before arriving at a conclusion.On Tuesday, senior counsel P Venugopal, appearing for Srilakshmi, said she has an apprehension about Justice Lakshman hearing her revision plea in view of last year's judgment delivered by him where he had refused to quash the case against her.When CBI counsel Srinivas Kapatia sought a week's time to file their counter, the judge reminded him that the CBI could not dodge filing a counter now, saying, "You complained to the apex court about the HC not hearing your version. But here you have not filed your counter despite a three-month deadline fixed by the Supreme Court asking the HC to decide the issue."Srilakshmi had succeeded Kripanandam as industries secretary. The special court, while convicting Gali and the others, had acquitted Kripanandam as well as then industry minister Sabitha Indra Reddy in the illegal mining case.