Prominent Ballari miner and activist Tapal Ganesh has formally petitioned both the Karnataka Governor and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, advocating for the immediate disqualification of Gali Janardhan Reddy. Reddy, currently the MLA for Gangavathi and a former State Minister, is accused of breaching his legislative oath to safeguard Karnataka’s natural resources by actively participating in extensive illegal mining operations during his time in office.
In a comprehensive petition submitted on October 31, Ganesh highlighted his concerns regarding Reddy’s oath of office, specifically citing the period between 2008 and 2011 when Reddy served as a Minister. Ganesh claims that Reddy personally violated his solemn oath to the Governor. The petition further details how Reddy, in his dual role as a director of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure, allegedly enabled the illegal encroachment of forest land in Tumti and Vittalapura villages (Sandur taluk). He is also accused of authorizing the extraction of iron ore from Karnataka’s territory using mining permits that were originally issued by Andhra Pradesh.
Ganesh asserts that a staggering 2.9 million tonnes of iron ore, with an estimated value of ₹884 crore, were illicitly mined, resulting in substantial financial losses for the Karnataka state treasury. To bolster his claims, he referenced the findings of the CBI Special Court in Hyderabad from C.C. No. 1 of 2012, known as the Obulapuram mining case. On May 6, 2025, this court convicted Reddy and several others for various offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, and the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988.
The petition includes excerpts from the court’s judgment and witness testimonies, including those provided by Ganesh and his brother. These excerpts, according to Ganesh, unequivocally demonstrate Reddy’s direct involvement in the encroachment of land, the intimidation of adjacent leaseholders, and the unauthorized extraction of ore from forest regions along the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.
Ganesh contends that these alleged actions constitute a grave abuse of public office and are in direct contravention of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as well as Article 191 of the Constitution of India. Consequently, he argues, these violations necessitate Reddy’s disqualification from the Legislative Assembly.
Furthermore, Ganesh appended a letter from the Director of Mines and Geology, Karnataka, dated September 24, 2025. This letter pertains to the ongoing efforts to recover ₹884 crore from OMC and its associated companies for the illegal iron ore extraction from the Sandur cluster leases.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ganesh clarified his motivation: ‘I hold no personal animosity towards Mr. Reddy or his family. However, as a concerned citizen and someone directly impacted by Reddy’s illegal mining, I believe I have every right to challenge a public representative who swore an oath to the Governor to protect Karnataka’s land, forests, and water, only to then betray that very oath through his deeds. The repercussions extend beyond mere financial loss; it’s a fundamental breach of public trust.’
Copies of this significant representation have also been forwarded to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, the Election Commission of India, and the State Law Minister, ensuring wide awareness of the allegations.