Published Feb 18, 2026 | 12:15 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 18, 2026 | 12:15 PM
Supreme Court of India. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Supreme Court on 17 February dismissed IAS officer Y Srilakshmi’s plea for discharge in the Obulapuram Mining Company case, upholding the Telangana High Court’s order. The ruling clears the way for trial proceedings over alleged irregular mining lease allocations benefiting Gali Janardhan Reddy’s company in Andhra Pradesh.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by senior IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, upholding a Telangana High Court order that rejected her plea for discharge in the long-standing Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal mining case.
The apex court’s decision, delivered on 17 February, paves the way for her trial to proceed.
The case dates back over a decade and involves allegations of irregularities in the allocation of iron ore mining leases in the Anantapur district of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
The CBI had named Srilakshmi as an accused in a supplementary charge sheet, accusing her of abusing her official position as Secretary of Industries and Mines during 2005-2007 to irregularly grant leases to Obulapuram Mining Company Private Limited, owned by former Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy.
The CBI alleged that this had facilitated illegal mining activities and undue benefits, including bypassing norms related to captive mining.
Srilakshmi, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, had sought discharge from the case at the trial court level, which was initially dismissed.
She then challenged it through revision petitions. The Telangana High Court, after a rehearing as directed by the Supreme Court, dismissed her plea in July 2025, holding that her role warranted examination during trial rather than pre-trial discharge.
Challenging the High Court’s final dismissal, Srilakshmi approached the Supreme Court. A bench, after hearing arguments from both sides, including opposition from the CBI that serious violations occurred under her watch, dismissed her special leave petition. The court upheld the High Court’s view, refusing to discharge her and allowing the trial to continue in the CBI special court.
With the Supreme Court’s order, the trial against Y Srilakshmi is expected to move forward, potentially bringing closure to one of the high-profile illegal mining scandals investigated by the CBI.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev.)
