A special CBI court has ordered the issuance of letters of request to authorities in Switzerland, Singapore, the Isle of Man, and the UAE to furnish details of mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy’s money trail in connection with the multi-crore illegal mining scam case.
In the order passed on March 4, the special judge for CBI cases, Chandrakala, said, “The application filed under Sec. 166-A CrPC for judicial assistance to the competent authority in Switzerland is hereby allowed. The office is directed to issue a letter of request in favor of the competent authority in Switzerland. The office is directed to send a copy of the order and details of the documents to the authority.”
Similar orders were issued with regard to the CBI request seeking details of GLA Trading International Pvt Ltd. from authorities in the UAE, Singapore, and the Isle of Man.
The court order comes as Reddy, founder of the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) party, is campaigning ahead of state assembly polls due in May.
The CBI had filed applications against Gali Janardhana Reddy, G Lakshmi Aruna (since discharged in the case), IAS officer ME Shivalinga Murthy, IFS officer S Muthaiah, K Mehfuz Ali Khan, SP Raju, Mahesh A Patil, and former Ranger Forest Officer H Ramamurthy.
The central agency is seeking details of the incorporation of GLA Trading International in Switzerland, a statement of account of the company in Swiss banks, details of the owners, authorized signatories, bank accounts, and the link between Gali Janardhan Reddy and his family members with the company in question.
The court, in its order, also noted the CBI’s request.
“It is to be noted that, in the charge sheet, it has been alleged that the accused persons were involved in illegal mining under a mining lease issued in the name of Associated Mining Company. As per the information provided by the authorities, the entire money gained through the process of illegal mining would form part of the proceeds of crime, and it is absolutely required to find out and initiate the legal proceedings. “Therefore, the information is required as sought for,” the court noted in its order.
The CBI stated in its application that Reddy “had transacted iron ore illegally to the extent of more than 7 to 8 million metric tons during 2009-10. A substantial portion of the amount was suspected to be parked by the accused in various countries.
Therefore, the issuance of the letter of request is essential to finding out the existence of the company and the details of its bank account in the name of GLA Trading International Private Ltd. in Switzerland.
As per the information, the entire money so gained through the process of illegal mining would form part of the proceeds of crime, and it is necessary to identify the money and initiate legal action, the CBI added.
