Narco test likely as GJR clams up

Sources in the CBI say Janardhana Reddy is a tough nut to crack and Srinivas Reddy is faking amnesia. The latter has told the officers that he could not remember a thing even though the maps of the Obulapuram Mines are shown to him in an effort to help him recollect some facts about the doings of the company of which he is the managing director and gets Rs 2.5 crore a year for his pains.

The interrogation being led by CBI Joint Director Lakshminarayana and CBI SP Venkatesh, often hits a dead end as Janardhana Reddy is refusing to give straight forward answer, sources aid. The CBI is trying to make him list out the names of officers and people’s representatives who helped him plunder the mineral wealth. If the two men do not cooperate, CBI will be left with no option but to seek narco analysis on them, with their consent of course.

The CBI, on Friday also began questioning former Karnataka Minister Gali Karunakara Reddy in connection with the case. The CBI on Thursday questioned Gali Somsekhar Reddy, MLA from Karnataka and another brother of Janardhan Reddy.

The Special CBI Court on Friday directed the CBI to provide basic facilities to the accused at the place where they are lodged after their day-long interrogation. Janardhana Reddy’s counsel filed a petition   on Thursday, alleging that their clients were being questioned by CBI till late night and sought better facilities at the CCS.

The CBI officials also continued the examination of former Director of Mines and Geology V D Rajagopal. The court had on Tuesday last dismissed the bail pleas of Janardhana and Srinivas Reddy, and ordered that they be handed over to the investigating agency for their custodial investigation till September 19.

Meanwhile, the Guntakal police presented the driver and cleaner of the truck they seized from Hanuman Junction in Guntakal on Thursday evening before the Uravakonda Court.

The judge remanded Venaktarama Reddy and Eshwara  Reddy to judicial custody till 30 September. Income Tax officials from Tirupati arrived at Guntakal and are investigating the source of the cash (Rs 4.95 crore) which is under lock and key with the Guntakal police.