For the first time in modem India, an environmental criminal has been put in jail for the illegal mining of iron ore. This all happened in Bellari, a historic city in the state of Karnataka, India. Once known for its sandalwood forests and abundant wildlife, it also contains large deposits of fine and coarse iron ore. India is among the largest producers and exporters of iron ore globally.' The iron ore industry in Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is run by a politically well connected mafia. The most powerful of the mine owners of the region, former State Minister of Tourism, Gali Janardhana (Anand) Reddy, has been in jail for the last three years.