Bellary,Dec 10:The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday searched the Bellary office of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC),which is owned by Karnataka Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and is accused of illegal mining.The CBI team comprising 11 members reached Bellary on Wednesday night, questioned OMC employees at its office in Havambhavi and later visited Reddy's house.Janardhana Reddy has been asked to be available for questioning.The Centre ordered the CBI probe into alleged illegal mining at the Andhra Pradesh government's request.
Reddy—who has a case pending against him before Supreme Court-- is accused of illegal mining in parts of Karnataka bordering Andhra Pradesh.Reddy holds three mining licences in Andhra Pradesh.Soon after Andhra Pradesh sought a CBI probe, opposition parties in Karnataka the Congress and JDS stepped up pressure on the Karnataka state government to seek a similar probe.But this proposal was blindly rejected by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.