The AP HC, during the hearing on Wednesday on the CBI petition that sought cancellation of bail granted to suspended IAS officer Srilakshmi, made some interesting comments about her role in the scam involving the former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan reddy and his brother in law BV Srinivasa reddy.

During the arguments of Padmanabha reddy, counsel for Srilakshmi, Justice Nageswara Rao observed that he had gone through the academic career of Srilakshmi and said she was an intellectual.

“Being an intellectual, how can Srilakshmi say she had no role in issuing the GO that omitted the words captive mining? If the GO had come out without her knowledge, that means she was negligent of her duties as the Secretary of her department,” commented the judge.

The judge further said that OMC, owned by Gali Janardhan reddy was given the leases for iron ore mining on the condition that it must start mining within six months failing which the leases would be canceled. “But, the licenses were renewed to it even after one and half years delay in starting its mining operations. How could it be?” Justice Nageswara rao asked.

Observing that the captive mining had turned into export mining, the judge said the developments clearly show that all officials cooperated with the OMC for its illegal mining.

Disagreeing with the decision of the CBI special court in granting bail to Srilakshmi on the grounds of her being a woman, the judge said bail can’t be granted to an accused on the grounds of the person being a woman or having sickness.

“We have to examine whether the lower court judge had gone by the Supreme Court guidelines on granting bail to the accused,” said the judge. The court will deliver its order on Monday. (JUBS)