Ballari: Veteran activists who spearheaded the campaign against illegal mining hailed the conviction of mining baron and former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy as a significant victory in their long battle for justice.
S.R. Hiremath, founder of the Samaja Parivartana Samudaya, termed the verdict a “major setback to the mining mafia” and expressed hope that it would set a precedent for pending cases. “This judgment pertains to one of the mines operated by Janardhan Reddy. The CBI court verdict is important and sends a strong message. We believe the remaining cases will also reach their logical conclusion,” he said.
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Ballari-based mining entrepreneur and whistleblower Tapal Ganesh urged the Karnataka government to initiate efforts to recover the state’s looted natural resources. He alleged that Reddy carried out mining operations in protected forest areas by manipulating inter-state boundary maps with the help of local officials.
“With today’s order, even the soul of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister K. Rosaiah, who had called out the illegality, can rest in peace,” he added. “Janardhan Reddy secured mining permits from Andhra Pradesh but plundered Karnataka’s iron ore. The CBI chargesheet clearly states that 29 lakh tonnes of ore were transported illegally. It is time the state acted to reclaim the loss.”
Sreeshaila Aladhalli, vice-president of the Samaja Parivartana Samudaya, welcomed the court’s decision...
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