Ballari: In a big relief to Gangavathi MLA G. Janardhana  Reddy, who also served as a Minister in the Yediyurappa-led BJP Government, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday granted permission for the MLA to enter Ballari without any prior permission of the authorities.

Reddy had been banned from entering Ballari in accordance with a Court order after he was granted bail in an illegal mining case. Reddy was arrested by the CBI on Sept. 5, 2011 in connection with illegal mining, following which he was lodged in Cherlapalli Jail in Andhra Pradesh.

However, the Supreme Court granted him bail in January, 2015 with the condition that he should not visit his home district of Ballari.

But now, the Supreme Court, while relaxing the bail  conditions, has allowed him to visit Ballari and accordingly, Janardhana Reddy is all set to return to his home district after a gap of 13 years.