New Delhi, May 4: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the plea of mining scam-accused Gali Janardhan Reddy seeking the judiciary's nod to campaign in Ballari (former Bellary). The seat witnesses the candidature of his younger brother, Gali Somashekhar Reddy, who is contesting on the BJP ticket.

Janardhan, out on bail since 2015, had sought the court's permission to visit Ballari on May 8 and 9, and May 12 -- when the assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled to be held.

Janardhan's elder brother, Gali Karunakar Reddy, is also contesting the upcoming polls on the BJP ticket. The party has fielded him from Harapanahalli.

The Reddy brothers, part of the erstwhile BJP government led by Yeddyurappa, are marred in the mining scam unearthed by the State Lokayukta in 2011. The magnitude of the scam was reported to be Rs 35,000 crore.

The trio were re-inducted into the BJP fold earlier this year. Their inclusion in the party provided fodder to the Congress, targeting their saffron rivals of being hand-in-glove with "corrupt forces". "This deal with the Reddy brothers shows the moral bankruptcy of the BJP," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Reacting to the flak generated by the Opposition, the BJP state unit said the Reddy brothers are yet to be convicted of the charges levelled against them. BJP spokesperson S Prakash said the party has given the ticket only to Karunakar and Somashekhar Reddy, whereas, Janardhan is campaigning for his brothers in his personal capacity.

Janardhan Reddy is not part of the BJP and is campaigning by himself. This is just a ploy to divert attention from the people’s resolve to vote out the Congress,” he said.

Janardhana, 51, was charged by the Lokayukta as the kingpin of the mining scam. He was arrested twice: in 2011 and 2015. He was granted bail by the top court as the case is still under probe.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2018 04:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).