Reddy sent to CBI custody

BANGALORE: Mining baron and former minister G Janardhana Reddy, who was brought from the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad by the CBI sleuths, was produced before the  designated court and remanded in the agency custody till March 12 in connection with illegal mining case. Earlier, Reddy was brought to the city in the wee hours of Friday and kept in Halasur Gate police station. Around 10.15 am he was brought to the court and produced before CBI Court judge B M Angadi. Meanwhile, Ali Khan, an aide of Reddy, who is also an accused in the case,  surrendered before the court and he was also remanded in CBI custody.Reddy’s wife Lakshmi Aruna Reddy, former minister Sriramulu’s sister, MP Shantha and hundreds of his followers were at the court. Around 2,000 policemen were deployed for security. Reddy, who was cooling his heels in Chanchalguda jail since August last, seems to be happy to be back in the city. When he was produced before the court, Reddy looked apparently relaxed. CBI sources said, “Reddy was saying he would prefer to stay in a jail in Karnataka rather than in AP,” they added.