“G. J. Reddy Sir,” is the code name of a man who was powerful enough to silence government servants all the way from the mining fields of Bellary to the Belekeri port of Karwar while iron ore was smuggled from the state in 2009-2010. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been ordered to investigate the Belekeri iron ore scam by the Supreme Court, is expected to establish “G. J Reddy Sir” as a key conspirator in the Belekeri scam which involved the theft and illegal export of 50.79 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore.
Interestingly, the role of “G. J Reddy Sir” in the illegal transport and export of iron ore was first probed by the Income Tax (Investigation) department during a raid conducted on the offices of Karapdu Mahesh and his associates, who , going by Lokayuka chief investigating officer, Dr U V Singh’s report, was employed by G J Reddy Sir to carry out “risk mining”, and transport iron ore without valid permit.
But while it was alleged that "G. J Reddy Sir" was none other than former minister, Gali Janardhan Reddy, currently in jail on charges of illegal mining, neither the Income Tax (Investigation) report nor the Dr U V Singh Report decoded the name. Former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in his mining report only recommended a further investigation by a competent authority into the operations of G J Reddy Sir, adding that “contemplated action should be initiated against Sri G J Reddy Sir under the various provisions of law”.
The Lokayukta report also maintained that the bank accounts of Sree Bhakta Markandeshwara Minerals (SBMM) and Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Minerals were proxy accounts opened to transfer the illegally earned “risk amount” to "G J Reddy Sir.