Gali's Chopper, Cars Ill-Gotten Wealth: CBI

A special CBI court, on Tuesday, sought valuation certificates of a chopper and some luxury cars owned by former Karnataka Tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and OMC's managing director B V Srinivas Reddy, that were seized by the CBI after their arrest from Bellary in September last year.

The Reddy brothers, who have been chargesheeted along with 3 others in the OMC case last year, had earlier approached the CBI special court, seeking the release of the helicopter and the cars that were seized by the investigating agency.

The CBI, probing the illegal mining case that involves Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), alleged that the helicopter and the cars that were bought in the name of OMC and the Reddys were purchased with "ill-gotten" money made in the mining scam.

The court, while seeking valuation certificates, said there is a necessity to ascertain the present market value of the helicopter and the cars.

With regard to the helicopter, the court directed its officials to address a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which, in turn, can the necessary directions to a vehicle inspector or a technical expert to inspect the helicopter, which is parked at Bangalore, and issue the valuation certificate.

Court authorities were also asked to address letters to the Motor Vehicle Inspector of Bellary, with a direction to inspect the cars and assess their valuation, and to submit certificates.

Based on the valuation certificate, the court is likely to decide the value of the surety bonds required by the petitioners (the Reddys) in view of taking possession of the helicopter and the cars.

The CBI had, earlier, alleged that "the purchases (of the chopper and the cars) were made through the amount amassed through illegal mining. They were part of the proceeds of crime, and cannot be released till the disposal of the case."

The was apprehensive that the accused may sell the chopper and cars to a third party if they are returned, which would make it difficult for the agency to procure them before the trial.

The central agency further said that it was verifying the source of purchase. It brushed aside the Reddys' contention that continuous disuse would spoil the helicopter and the cars, saying that the helicopter was kept in a shed in Bangalore and was well-maintained, while the cars were also in a good condition in Bellary.

Srinivas Reddy is currently under judicial custody and lodged in Chanchalguda Jail here, while Gali Janardhan Reddy has been taken to Bangalore by the CBI, in connection with another illegal mining case.(INN)