Ready to speak out if given protection

Anjaneyalu, who is OMC's deputy general manager and who unsuccessfully attempted suicide on December 25, told MiD DAY that the company had threatened him and told him not to divulge sensitive information to the CBI, but that he would do so if he were provided security.

Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara's writ runs large in the mining districts, primarily Bellary.

Anjaneyalu said, "Trouble started after the news of a CBI probe against the Reddy brothers came in. In the first week of December I was told to proceed on leave. Later, I discovered that my office had been demolished and all company records taken away by the management."

The deputy general manager, who has approached the SHRC (a copy of his petition is available with MiD DAY), said he was told by OMC's managing director Srinivas Reddy that his services were not required since the mines were closed on court orders.

"I was worried that the CBI team would interrogate me, since the records were needed during investigation.

When I asked for the documents, Srinivasa Reddy warned me against raising questions and told me to keep quite and sit at home and that my monthly salary would reach me," said Anjaneyalu, who was with OMC the past the four years.

Anjaneyalu claimed to know of the irregularities taking place at the mines. "I had to keep mum since I was an employee and if I wanted to change my job, no one would give me one," he said, adding that a few days after being asked to keep away from work, a team of 10 policemen along with company officials raided his residence.

"They were searching for the documents, perhaps assuming that I had copies of it. But upon finding nothing, they first detained me, and then my wife. But instead of taking us to the police station we were separately taken to the OMC office," said Anjaneyalu, who attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills after the episode.

With Anjaneyalu in a serious condition and no local hospital allegedly willing to admit him, he was taken to Bangalore. "Here as well the Bellary police descended and this time accused my son-in-law, B N Manjunath, an executive with a leading company, of teaming up with me to swindle Rs 1.5 crore from OMC," Anjaneyalu said.

A shocked Manjunath also attempted suicide in the hospital bathroom, but was saved. "My daughter is pregnant and my son is studying abroad. I have not informed him of anything since he would come hear leaving his studies in the middle," Anjaneya told the SHRC in his application seeking relief and protection.

The SHRC has taken cognisance of the case. On Saturday it directed the state government to keep under suspension the superintendent of police responsible for the harassment meted out to Anjayenya and his family. The SHRC has also asked the state government to hand over the case to the CID for detailed investigations.

The jurisdictional police have been asked to provide security to Anjaneya since he was facing threat to life.

"The police have given us two mobile numbers to call them in case of any eventuality," said Anjaneya.

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