On July 17, 2025, Gali Janardhana Reddy remains a well-known name in Indian politics and business. He is a man whose life is full of big dreams, huge wealth, and many controversies. Born in a simple family, he rose to become one of Karnataka’s richest politicians. His journey is like a movie, with success, power, and legal troubles. This article tells the story of Gali Janardhana Reddy in simple words. It covers his early life, business success, political career, and the challenges he faced.
Early Life And Family
Gali Janardhana Reddy was born on January 11, 1967, in Bellary, Karnataka. His father, Chenga Reddy, was a police constable. His mother, Rukminamma, took care of the family. Janardhana grew up in a small house with his two brothers, Karunakara Reddy and Somashekara Reddy, and an elder sister, Rajeswari. Life was not easy for them. The family had little money. But Janardhana always dreamed of doing something big. He studied only up to the 10th standard at a government high school in Bellary. He did not go to college. Instead, he learned from life and the streets.
As a young boy, Janardhana was full of energy. He was curious and wanted to make money. He saw his father work hard for little pay. This made him want a better life. Even as a teenager, he thought about business. He wanted to change his family’s future. His brothers and sister supported him. Together, they worked as a team. This teamwork helped Janardhana later in life.
Gali Janardhana Reddy Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Wife, Daughter, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gali Janardhana Reddy |
| Date of Birth | January 11, 1967 |
| Place of Birth | Bellary, Karnataka, India |
| Family Background | - Father: Chenga Reddy (police constable) - Mother: Rukminamma - Siblings: Two brothers (Karunakara Reddy, Somashekara Reddy), one sister (Rajeswari) |
| Education | Studied up to 10th standard at a government high school in Bellary |
| Early Life | - Grew up in a simple family with limited money - Dreamed of a better life - Started working early to support family |
| Business Ventures | - 1989: Started Ennoble India Savings & Investment Company (125 branches, 350 crores turnover) - 2001: Founded Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) - OMC mined iron ore, reached 3,000 crores turnover by 2009 |
| Political Career | - 1990s: Joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - 1999: Helped Sushma Swaraj’s election campaign in Bellary - 2006: Became Member of Legislative Council in Karnataka - 2008: Became Tourism and Infrastructure Minister, managed Bellary district - 2022: Formed Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) - 2023: Won MLA seat from Gangavathi - 2024: Rejoined BJP, merged KRPP with BJP |
| Controversies | - 2009-2011: Accused of illegal mining with OMC, causing 884 crores loss - 2011: Arrested by CBI, spent 3 years in jail - 2015: Released on bail, restricted from visiting Bellary - 2016: Daughter’s lavish wedding raised wealth questions - 2025: Sentenced to 7 years in jail for illegal mining, conviction later suspended by Telangana High Court |
| Legal Issues (2025) | - May 2025: CBI court sentenced him to 7 years, disqualified as MLA - July 2025: Telangana High Court suspended conviction, allowing him to remain MLA - Requested return of 57.89 kg seized gold |
| Personal Life | - Married to Aruna Lakshmi - Son: Kireeti Reddy (aspiring actor, debuted in “Junior” movie) - Known for grand lifestyle, owns 246.5 crores in assets including 84 kg gold and diamonds |
| Major Achievements | - Built a mining empire from a small background - Became a key political figure in Karnataka - Won MLA seat in 2023 despite controversies |
| Notable Facts | - Donated 45-crore gold crown to Lord Balaji at Tirupati - Known as “mining baron” - No loans despite huge wealth |
| Current Status (July 17, 2025) | - Active BJP member - MLA from Gangavathi - Facing ongoing legal battles over mining case |
Starting a Business Empire
Janardhana Reddy started his first business at the age of 21. In 1989, he set up a company called Ennoble India Savings & Investment Company Limited. It was a finance company. It helped people save and invest money. The company grew fast. It had 125 branches across South India. It made a turnover of 350 crores. This was a big success for a young man from a small town. Janardhana’s hard work and smart ideas made him rich.
In 2001, Janardhana started another business. It was called Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC). This company changed his life. Bellary had a lot of iron ore. Iron ore is used to make steel. It was in high demand. Janardhana and his brothers saw a big opportunity. They started mining iron ore. Their company grew very fast. By 2009, OMC had a turnover of over 3,000 crores. Janardhana became one of the richest men in Karnataka. He owned big houses, cars, and even helicopters. People called him and his brothers the “Reddy brothers.” They had a lot of power in Bellary.
Entering Politics
Janardhana Reddy did not stop at business. He wanted to be a leader. In the 1990s, he joined politics. He worked with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1999, he got a big chance. He helped Sushma Swaraj, a BJP leader, in her election campaign in Bellary. She was fighting against Sonia Gandhi, a Congress leader. Sushma Swaraj lost, but Janardhana’s work impressed BJP leaders. They saw his talent and hard work.
In 2006, Janardhana became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Karnataka. This was a big step. He worked hard for the BJP. He helped the party win many seats in Bellary. In 2008, the BJP formed the government in Karnataka. Janardhana became a minister. He was in charge of tourism and infrastructure. He also looked after Bellary district. He started many projects to develop the area. People admired his energy. But some said he used his power to help his business.
Controversies And Legal Troubles
Janardhana Reddy’s life was not always smooth. He faced many problems. In 2009, trouble started. People said his mining company, OMC, was breaking rules. They said he was mining iron ore illegally. This caused a big loss to the government. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started looking into the case. In 2011, Janardhana was arrested. He was sent to jail in Hyderabad. His brother-in-law, B.V. Srinivas Reddy, was also arrested. They were accused of illegal mining worth 884 crores.
Janardhana spent three years in jail. In 2015, the Supreme Court gave him bail. But he was not allowed to go to Bellary. This was hard for him. Bellary was his home and his base. The court also said he had to tell authorities if he wanted to visit. The mining case hurt his image. Many people called him a “mining baron.” The BJP kept him at a distance. His political career seemed finished.
In 2016, another controversy came up. Janardhana’s daughter got married. The wedding was very grand. It had 50,000 guests and cost crores of rupees. People were shocked. They asked where the money came from. The Income Tax department started checking. They thought Janardhana was hiding money. This made more trouble for him.
A New Political Party
Janardhana Reddy did not give up. In 2022, he started his own party. It was called Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP). He wanted to start fresh. He said he was tired of the BJP. In 2023, he ran for election from Gangavathi in Koppal district. His wife, Aruna Lakshmi, also ran from Bellary City. Janardhana won the election. He became an MLA. But his wife lost. His brothers, who ran with the BJP, also lost. Janardhana’s win showed he still had support.
In 2024, Janardhana made a big move. He joined the BJP again. He merged his party with the BJP. He said he wanted to help the party win in North Karnataka. His return was big news. Some people welcomed him. Others did not trust him because of his past.
Recent Legal Issues
In May 2025, Janardhana faced another problem. A CBI court in Hyderabad sentenced him to seven years in jail. It was for the illegal mining case. He was moved to Bengaluru Central Prison. Three others were also sentenced. The court said OMC mined iron ore in areas it was not allowed to. This caused a loss of 884 crores. Janardhana was disqualified as an MLA. He could not be a member of the Karnataka Assembly for six years after his release.
But Janardhana did not lose hope. In July 2025, the Telangana High Court gave him some relief. It suspended his conviction. This meant he could stay an MLA for now. He also asked the court to return 57.89 kilograms of gold seized by the CBI. He said the gold belonged to him and his wife. The court will decide on this later.
Personal Life And Legacy
Janardhana Reddy is married to Aruna Lakshmi. They have a son named Kireeti Reddy. Kireeti wants to be an actor. In 2022, he started working on a movie called “Junior.” It is in Kannada and Telugu. Janardhana supports his son’s dreams. He says Kireeti chose films over politics.
Janardhana’s life is full of ups and downs. He started with nothing. He built a big business empire. He became a powerful politician. But his controversies made him famous in a bad way. Some people see him as a smart businessman. Others see him as a man who broke rules. His story shows how ambition can lead to success and trouble.
Janardhana owns assets worth 246.5 crores. This includes 84 kilograms of gold and diamonds. He has no loans, which is rare for someone so rich. He is known for his grand lifestyle. He once gave a gold crown worth 45 crores to Lord Balaji at Tirupati. This shows his wealth and his faith.
Conclusion
Gali Janardhana Reddy’s life is like a roller coaster. He came from a simple family. He dreamed big and worked hard. He built a mining empire and became a powerful politician. But his illegal mining case brought him trouble. He went to jail and lost his place in the BJP. Still, he fought back. He started his own party and won an election. He even returned to the BJP. His recent legal battles show that his story is not over.
Janardhana’s life teaches us many things. Hard work and big dreams can make you successful. But breaking rules can bring you down. He is a man of ambition and controversy. People in Karnataka still talk about him. Some admire him. Some criticize him. But no one can ignore Gali Janardhana Reddy. His story will be remembered for a long time.