Court blasts CCB for arresting Reddy without evidence

The Ist Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court pulled up the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police for arresting Ballari mining baron G Janardhana Reddy without proper grounds and with no evidence of his involvement in the case.

Ist ACMM magistrate V Jagadeesh, while hearing a bail application filed by Reddy, asked CCB officials what connection Reddy had with Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd. “The complaint is in one direction and the investigation is in another direction. There is not the smallest allegation we can find against Reddy as neither the investors nor the complainant have mentioned Reddy’s name. How can you say Reddy is involved in the case?” the court asked.

Leading criminal advocate C H Hanumantharaya, representing Reddy, submitted that the court had granted bail to four accused in the case and also an anticipatory bail to fifth accused Mehfuz Ali Khan. Soon after Reddy received a notice from the CCB police, he appeared before them despite not being involved in the case. Khan had taken Rs 18 crore from Syed Ahmed Fareed and his son Syed Afaq Ahmed, owners of Ambidant. Reddy has no connection with the Ambidant fraud, he stated.

Hanumantharaya further submitted that during interrogation, Reddy told the CCB that he was aware that his aide, Khan, had taken a loan from Ambidant and he will ensure that he will make him (Khan) repay it. He stated that there were no allegations against Reddy and he has to appear for a case related to the CBI and sought bail.

Public prosecutor V Venkatagiri submitted that the case involves Rs 600 crore and thousands of investors were cheated by Ambidant. There are allegations that Reddy has taken money from Ambidant owners to bail them out from cases and opposed the bail saying he may destroy evidence and influence witnesses.

When magistrate Jagadeesh asked the public prosecutor how Reddy was involved in the Ambidant fraud case, he replied that it cannot be revealed in the open court.

After hearing the arguments, Reddy’s bail plea was posted for orders on Wednesday.

‘Loan for religious vows’

Janardhana Reddy’s close aide Mehfuz Ali Khan stated in his remand application before the court that he had a lot of difficulties in his business from 2011 and started praying to God. He made religious vows to give gold bullion to masjids, dargahs and other religious institutions. As his problems were solved, he decided to fulfil his religious vows. Since he had no money, he had taken a loan of Rs 18 crore from the owners of Ambidant and bought 57 kg of gold and later donated them to masjids, dargahs and other religious institutions.

He added that he had taken a loan in 2017 but was not aware that the company had cheated investors to give him the loan. Since he is now aware that that fraud money was given to him as a loan, he is ready to repay it.

The CCB officials filed an application before the city civil and sessions court to cancel the anticipatory bail of Mehfuz Ali Khan. Hearing their application, the court issued a notice to Khan to file his objections and adjourned the case to Wednesday for further hearing.