Bangalore, Sep 5 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party here Monday condemned the arrest of one of its leaders, mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy, on charges of illegal mining, even as Congress claimed credit for his detention.


"The arrest shows that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a Congress puppet," state BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa said in Shimoga on Reddy's arrest earlier Monday from his hometown of Bellary.

"It is a conspiracy of Congress," B.S. Yeddyurappa said. The former chief minister, who is touring Chamarajanagar district, around 200 km from here, is also facing several corruption charges.

Both Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa were confident that the Reddy brothers would prove in court that they had done no wrong.

"Allegations do not mean the person is guilty." Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said in Hubli.

"Let us wait for the court verdict," he told reporters. He also said that Reddy's arrest would not have any impact on the BJP.

The state Congress, which has been carrying on a campaign for action against the Reddy brothers, said its efforts had borne fruit.

"We have been demanding arrest of the Reddy brothers because they have indulged in massive illegal mining; our efforts have succeeded," state Congress president G. Parameshwara said in Bangalore.

"These people have looted the state's riches. They should be severely punished," Siddaramaiah of the Congress, leader of the opposition in the assembly, said in Mysore.

Reddy loyalist and former health minister B. Sriramulu, who quit the assembly Sunday over not being made a minister again, slammed the CBI for arresting the leader.

"It is nothing but Congress conspiracy against us," he told reporters in Mysore.