Overview

• Justice K. Lakshman’s bench issued notices after the CBI filed a criminal appeal against the special court’s May order acquitting both officials.
• The Central Bureau of Investigation is seeking to quash the trial court’s finding that cleared them for lack of evidence.
• The High Court directed that this appeal be clubbed with those of convicted accused such as Gali Janardhan Reddy, whose seven-year sentence has been stayed.
• The CBI alleges the former minister and ex-IAS officer conspired in 2005 to grant an 885-hectare lease that enabled Obulapuram Mining Company to export about 20.32 lakh tonnes of iron ore.
• First registered in 2009, the long-running prosecution centers on alleged lease manipulation and export breaches blamed for hundreds of crores in potential revenue loss.