Hyderabad: In a significant development in the long-standing Obulapuram illegal mining case, the Telangana High Court on Monday issued notices to former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and retired IAS officer B. Kripanandam. The court admitted a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking to overturn their acquittal and asked the respondents to file counters. The matter has been posted for hearing next month.
CBI Seeks to Overturn May Acquittal
The CBI moved the High Court against the May 8, 2025, order of the special CBI court that acquitted Sabitha Reddy and Kripanandam. The special court had cited a lack of sufficient evidence in its decision to drop charges against the two.
However, the CBI contends that the duo played a crucial role in a conspiracy that enabled Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) to secure mining leases unlawfully in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district.
Allegations Against Sabitha and Kripanandam
According to the CBI’s plea, Sabitha Indra Reddy, then serving as Mines Minister, and B. Kripanandam, then Industries Secretary, were instrumental in enabling OMC’s access to 885 hectares of land. This, the agency claims, facilitated the illegal extraction and transport of 20.32 lakh tonnes of iron ore.
Their alleged actions are being portrayed by the CBI as critical enablers in the broader conspiracy involving misuse of official power and manipulation of lease processes.
Case Background: 16-Year-Old Illegal Mining Scandal
The Obulapuram mining case, registered 16 years ago, concerns large-scale illegal mining operations conducted by OMC in the Obulapuram region and Antaragangamma Hills of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.
In May 2025, the CBI court convicted BJP MLA and OMC promoter Gali Janardhan Reddy, OMC MD BV Srinivas Reddy, former Mines Director D. Rajagopal, and Reddy’s aide Ali Khan, sentencing them to seven years’ imprisonment.
Sabitha and Kripanandam, however, were acquitted in the same verdict.
Other Key Legal Developments in the Case
In June, the Telangana High Court suspended the sentence of the convicted individuals and granted conditional bail.
On July 25, the High Court dismissed a discharge petition filed by IAS officer Y. Srilakshmi, who continues to be Accused No. 6 in the case.
What’s Next?
The High Court has now reopened the legal debate over the acquittals. Both Sabitha Reddy and Kripanandam have been directed to file their counters, and the court will take up the matter for further hearing next month.
