CCB issues notice to Gali Janardhana Reddy

Bengaluru: A day after conducting searches at his Ballari residence, the Central Crime Branch here on Friday issued notice asking mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy, who is absconding, to appear before it on November 11.

Reddy is wanted in connection with money transaction amounting to crores of rupees allegedly linked to a ponzi scheme.

The central crime branch (CCB) is also hunting for Reddy's close aide Ali Khan, who allegedly struck a Rs 20-crore deal with Syed Ahmed Fareed of Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd, a firm accused of involvement in the ponzi scheme, to bail him out of an Enforcement Directorate investigation.

Reddy's lawyer C H Hanumantharaya, who earlier moved a city civil court Friday seeking anticipatory bail plea, told reporters that Reddy would take a call Saturday whether to appear before the CCB or not.  

"The bail plea we had filed was withdrawn after the court asked the prosecution to file their objection by Monday. The court also agreed to hear the victims of the case (ponzi scheme). 

Since the matter is coming up on Monday, we will decide whether Reddy should appear before the CCB or not," Hanumantharaya said.

Meanwhile, Reddy filed two petitions in the Karnataka High Court. The first petition pertained to quashing the First Information Report against him stating that it was based on "baseless allegations." 

The second plea sought removal of two police officials from investigating the case.

Reddys lawyer R P Chandrashekhar accused the officers of physically torturing the accused in the case to sign on confessional statements implicating Reddy and Ali Khan. He also alleged that there were political interests behind targeting Reddy.

Reddy has alleged that the investigation was unfair as the accused have been tortured in police custody, Chandrashekhar said. Searches continued at Reddy's residence in Ballari Thursday which started around 6 am and went on till evening, two days after Reddy's confidante Sriramulu's sister J Shantha, a BJP candidate, lost in the bypoll from Ballari Lok Sabha constituency, considered a stronghold of the Reddy brothers. 

The Congress won the seat breaking the BJP's hold over Ballari since 2004. Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar has said Reddy was absconding and police were looking for him to question him in connection with the case.