Jailed mining barons move court for 'special class prisoner status'

Former Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy along with brother-in-law BV Srinivasa Reddy, arrested in the illegal mining case, yesterday moved the special court seeking 'special class prisoner status'.

If granted, the powerful Reddy brothers would be given separate accommodation, special or home food and toilet and other facilities.

Special class prisoner status will also allow the accused to get cots, pillows, mattresses, sheets, mosquito nets, a separate kitchen, newspapers, cigarettes or cigars, as well as eat non-vegetarian meals everyday, provided it is brought by their family members.

The counsel for the Reddy brothers' has moved a petition before the CBI special court seeking its direction to provide them special class facilities at the Chenchalguda central prison in Hyderabad.

"An application seeking special class prisoner status has been filed in the court today as our clients being an MLC and former minister are tax payers," a senior counsel of the Reddys said.

The special court for CBI cases extended the judicial remand of both the accused to 14 November