Mining baron Janardhana Reddy turns up for questioning in alleged bribe case | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Mining baron Janardhana Reddy turns up for questioning in alleged bribe case

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Nov 11, 2018 12:11 AM IST

Reddy is under probe by Bengaluru crime branch for possible links to a man accused of running a ponzi scheme. Syed Ahmed Fareed, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for the 600 crore scam, has claimed that he paid Rs 18 crore to Reddy for “help” in settling the ED case.

Ballari mining baron and former Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy appeared for questioning in Bengaluru in an alleged bribery case on Saturday.

Former Karnataka legislator G Janardhan Reddy in New Delhi.(PTI File Photo)
Former Karnataka legislator G Janardhan Reddy in New Delhi.(PTI File Photo)

Before turning up at the central crime branch office, Reddy, who is under its probe for possible links to a man accused of running a ponzi scheme, released a video, saying he had “not committed any wrong”.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He also rubbished media reports that he had fled to Hyderabad or some other city, reported PTI.

“I have not committed anything wrong. The police do not have a single document to prove that I am wrong. They are misleading the media,” he claimed in his video message telecast by TV channels.

Reddy, who was a minister in the erstwhile Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, claimed his name neither figured in the first information (FIR) report, nor was any notice served to him. “Now that the notice has been issued by the police, I have decided to appear before the central crime branch today itself though the notice says I should appear on Sunday,” he said.

“I decided to make this video to let people know the truth. I have faith in the police and believe that they would not succumb to any political pressure,” he added.

Ponzi scam Syed Ahmed Fareed, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for the 600 crore scam, has alleged that he paid Rs 18 crore to Reddy for “help” in settling the ED case, the Bengaluru police had said.

According to the police, Fareed allegedly cheated around 15,000 people to the tune of Rs 600 crore through his company Ambidant Marketing Finance Ltd by promising them 40-50% interest on investment. After a complaint was filed against him by some members of the public last year, raids had been conducted on his offices and residences by the Enforcement Directorate earlier this year and his bank accounts were frozen.

Bengaluru police commissioner T Suneel Kumar said on Wednesday that the city police’s Central Crime Branch had been conducting a parallel investigation into Fareed’s affairs, based on the complaints it had received

“While the probe was going on, the officials came across a particular transaction of Rs 18 crore. Upon investigation it was found that the money was transferred from Ambidant to Ramesh Kothari, who runs a bullion business called Ambika Jewellers,” Kumar said.

Upon being questioned, Kothari claimed he had given 57 kg of gold to Ramesh, who runs Rajmahal Jewellers, and Ramesh alleged that he, in turn, had handed over the gold to Reddy’s assistant Ali Khan, he added.

According to the police, Fareed said he paid the amount because he was promised by Reddy and others that they would “help him out” with the ED’s case. Some meetings had allegedly taken place between Reddy, Ali Khan and Fareed, police said.

While Kothari was questioned, Fareed and Ramesh of Rajmahal Jewellers have been arrested, the police said.

The Ballari satrap

Reddy, the eldest of the Reddy brothers from Ballari, is no stranger to controversy, having been accused of illegally mining iron ore in Karnataka. And although the Central Bureau of Investigation had dropped some cases against him last year, the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had constituted a Special Investigation Team to reopen some cases.

Reddy was jailed for around four years in connection with the cases and continues to be banned from entering Ballari district. He had rented out a house on the outskirts of the district in Molkalmuru, from where his close aide Sreeramulu contested and won in the May assembly elections.

In 2016, Reddy had stirred up controversy after allegedly spending Rs 500 crore on a lavish wedding he threw for his daughter with the venue decked up to resemble Hampi. This was just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Two weeks ago, Reddy courted controversy yet again, when he seemed to suggest in a TV interview that the former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s elder son had passed away because he had separated Reddy from his children by getting him sent to jail.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On