OMC Case: Gali Janardhan Reddy Among Four Sentenced to 7 Years

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Court in Hyderabad delivered a significant verdict on Tuesday in the high-profile Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case, which had stirred considerable controversy across both Telugu states and Karnataka. Following nearly fifteen years of prolonged judicial proceedings, the court convicted the main accused Gali Janardhan Reddy and three others, sentencing each to seven years of imprisonment. Subsequently, the convicts were transferred to Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.

The CBI initiated an investigation into allegations of irregularities related to the operations of Obulapuram Mining Company. As part of the trial, the court found Gali Janardhan Reddy, his brother-in-law B.V. Srinivasa Reddy, former Director of the Mines Department and senior IAS officer V.D. Rajagopal, and Mehfuz Ali Khan guilty of the charges. In addition to the seven-year prison term, each convict was fined ₹10,000.

The court also acquitted two other individuals who had been named as accused in the same case. Furthermore, the Obulapuram Mining Company itself was fined ₹2 lakh by the court.

Immediately following the verdict, medical examinations were conducted on the four convicts within the court premises. They were then transported to Chanchalguda Central Prison under tight security arrangements.