Bengaluru, 30 Sept

In a major relief for former Minister and Gangavati MLA Janardhana Reddy, the Supreme Court has lifted the 14-year-old travel restriction that had prevented him from entering Bellary and nearby areas of Andhra Pradesh. Reddy had been barred from these regions since his arrest in connection with the illegal mining case involving the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).

Previously, Reddy was required to seek court permission each time he wished to visit Bellary, complicating his access to a constituency to which he has deep emotional ties. The Supreme Court’s decision now allows him unrestricted entry, a welcome change for Reddy, who had expressed frustration over the constraints imposed on him.

The restrictions were initially placed as part of his bail conditions related to ongoing investigations into illegal mining activities. Since the imposition of these restrictions, Reddy's political aspirations in Bellary were hindered. He had aimed to contest the last Assembly elections from Bellary, but his wife ended up running for the seat and lost. Reddy successfully contested from the Gangavati constituency as a candidate from the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP), a party he founded after parting ways with BJP.

Speaking to the media, Sriramulu, a close associate of Reddy, expressed happiness over the court's decision, highlighting the emotional toll the ban had taken on Reddy due to his deep roots in Bellary. He suggested that Reddy's reintegration into local politics could lead to new opportunities, possibly with an invitation from BJP to rejoin their ranks.

Reddy, whose net worth is reported to be around Rs 3,700 crore, founded the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Party during the Assembly elections and was the only candidate from his party to achieve electoral success. Following his victory, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting BJP during the Lok Sabha elections, signalling his ongoing engagement in the political arena.

With the Supreme Court’s lifting of travel restrictions, the future of Janardhana Reddy's political activities in Ballari remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly opens new avenues for his involvement in local politics. -Salar News