Mining baron and former minister of Karnataka, Gali Janardhan Reddy is currently lodged in Hyderabad Chanchalguda jail along with his brother-in-law B V Srinivasa Reddy. Both Janardhan Reddy and Srinivasa Reddy have been charged by the CBI for illegal activities through their Obulapuram Mining Company. The duo on Monday filed a petition in the CBI court seeking a special class prisoner status for them in the jail in accordance with Rule 730 of the AP Prisons Rules 1979.

The development comes in the wake of the CBI court on Monday extending the judicial remand of both Janardhana Reddy and Srinivas Reddy till November 14 after hearing them through video conferencing. While moving the petition seeking a special status, Gali referred to his status as a businessman and as an income and wealth tax assesse, legislator and a former Karnataka minister and cited the CBI’s own account of story when it searched his house on September 5 at Bellary and its consequent intimation letter to the chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council on the day of his arrest and the details spread out by CBI in his remand report etc. Quoting prison rules, he urged the special judge of the CBI court to refer the matter to the district collector for the purpose of classifying him as a special class prisoner and accord him the corresponding jail facilities.

According to jail sources, there are separate categories for convicts and undertrial prisoners in the jail. Convicts are classified into A, B and C categories. Undertrial prisoners are broadly classified as ordinary and special class and Gali and Srinivas are currently designated as ordinary prisoners. If and when they are granted special status, their cells will be provided with some furniture, mosquito nets, fans, mattresses etc. They will also become eligible for a special diet as well as non-vegetarian food. Special class prisoners are entitled for newspapers and magazines.