India, May 6 -- In a major setback to mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, a special CBI court in Hyderabad on Tuesday sentenced him to seven years in prison for his role in the infamous Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining scam. The court also imposed a fine of Rs.10,000 on Reddy and three co-accused, while the company was fined Rs.1 lakh.

Reddy, once a powerful figure in Karnataka's political and mining circles, was taken into custody by the CBI immediately after the verdict. He was listed as Accused No. 2 in the case, which has been under trial for nearly 14 years. The conviction marks a dramatic fall for the former minister, who was known for his influence in the resource-rich Ballari region and ...