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Janardhan Reddy arrested, to stay in jail till Nov 24

Last Updated 11 November 2018, 19:43 IST

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested mining baron G Janardhana Reddy in a money-laundering case on Sunday. The former minister was sent to judicial custody till November 24.

His close aide Mehfuz Ali Khan was also arrested in the multi-crore case involving Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd, but was released as he had obtained anticipatory bail on Friday. Reddy was denied bail on the same day.

Speaking after an interrogation of nearly 20 hours, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar said Reddy was arrested based on credible evidence and witness’ statement.

“We were collecting evidence and recording statements of the witness till late on Saturday night. Reddy was arrested after his involvement was confirmed,” he said, adding that they would recover the money and return to investors.

Janardhana Reddy was charged under IPC Section 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender) and other sections.

A senior police officer said that Reddy was arrested for taking Rs 20 crore from Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd to bail out the firm and the accused involved in a money-laundering case being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). That the money was taken from the accused involved in the case shows that he (Reddy) is also one of the beneficiaries, the officer said.

On Sunday noon, Reddy was taken to Victoria Hospital for a medical check-up soon after the police announced his arrest. He was produced before the magistrate at his residence later. However, police did not ask for his custody. The mining baron was remanded in judicial custody till November 24. He was escorted to Parappana Agrahara Central prison.

A total of 21 cases were filed against Ambidant. It was alleged that the firm operated around 12 accounts.

Reddy and Khan were arrested following a fresh complaint filed by Sarfraz Alam Tabraiz, one of the investors in Ambidant, before DJ Halli police. One transaction of Rs 18 crore raised suspicions about Reddy. Tabraiz alleged that the owners of Ambidant — Sayed Ahmed Fareed, Syed Afaq Ahmed — and one Irfan Mirza pursued people to invest money in the company by promising high returns, which didn’t happen. He sought action against all of them.

Both Fareed and Ahmed are out on bail. Two jewellers, Ramesh Kothari of Ambika Sales corporation, Bengaluru, and Ramesh Chatrasal of Rajamahal Fancy Jewellers in Ballari — who were accused of supplying 57 kg of gold bullion worth Rs 18 crore from Bengaluru — are also on bail. Another accused, builder-contractor Brijesh Reddy, is also on bail. Reddy’s advocate is preparing to approach the magistrate court on Monday for regular bail.

Sunday’s arrest was the third such incident for Reddy. He was first arrested in September 2011 by the CBI in connection with an illegal mining case. He was then lodged in Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad and released after the Supreme Court granted him bail on January 21, 2015.

He was arrested again on November 20, 2015, by Lokayukta SIT in connection with another illegal mining case.

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(Published 11 November 2018, 08:59 IST)

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