Telangana HC issues notices to OMC on appeal over penalty in illegal mining case

The Telangana High Court issued notices to Obulapuram Mining Company on the State’s appeal seeking a higher penalty in the illegal mining case involving Gali Janardhan Reddy. The government contends the Rs.2 lakh fine imposed earlier was grossly inadequate.

Hyderabad: Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) on an appeal filed by the State government seeking enhancement of the penalty imposed in the illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and others.

The appeal, filed through the CBI, contended that the fine imposed on OMC by the trial court was grossly inadequate considering the scale of offences and the extent of illegal mining. Special Public Prosecutor Srinivas Kapadia argued the matter on behalf of the State.

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It may be recalled that on May 6, the Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases at Nampally convicted Gali Janardhan Reddy, OMC’s then Managing Director B.V. Srinivasa Reddy, former Andhra Pradesh Mines and Geology Director V.D. Rajagopal, and then Deputy Director K. Mefaz Ali Khan.

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

Challenging the adequacy of the punishment, the government has sought a steeper financial penalty against the company. The matter has been adjourned to September 17 for further hearing.