Janardhana Reddy Re-surfaces in Video; Turns Up at Crime Branch

CCB has accused Reddy of taking Rs 20 crore from Ambidant owner Syed Ahmed Fareed to make ED drop case against him.

Reddy released a video of his statement through his lawyers on Saturday, 10 November.

(Photo: Screenshot of the video)

Two days after the Central Crime Branch (CCB) conducted raids at his Ballari residence, mining baron and BJP leader Gali Janardhan Reddy released a video of his statement through his lawyers on Saturday, 10 November.

Hours after he released the video, Reddy reached the CCB office in Bengaluru for questioning.

In the video, Reddy, seen along with his lawyer Chandrashekar, said he would cooperate with the investigation and blamed police for spreading the false news that he was absconding.

The development comes days after Reddy was accused in a money-laundering case. The CCB has accused Reddy of taking Rs 20 crore from the owner of Ambidant Marketing Pvt Ltd, Syed Ahmed Fareed, in order to strike a deal with Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials to drop the case against Ambidant.

The video was released to the media on Saturday afternoon. In the video, Reddy didn’t disclose his location, but merely said he was in Bengaluru city.

“I saw a news clipping claiming I was in Hyderabad. Watching this on the TV in Bengaluru, I didn’t know whether I should cry or laugh,”

Reddy said in his statement

‘Not Absconding, CCB Misled the Media’

Reddy claimed that he was not absconding. “My lawyers told me not worry about the news reports. I was advised that only if I’m issued a notice do I have to appear before police. Now that I have received the notice, I will appear for questioning and I will extend my full support,” he said.

The CCB, which had issued a lookout notice for Reddy, sent a legal notice on Friday asking him to appear for questioning.

“Few days ago, during a community wedding in Molakalmuru, I had told the media that police have created an environment of fear around my house in Bengaluru in the past 15 days. After that, just two day back, police tried to spread false news that I’m absconding.” 

Reddy said in the video

Reddy claimed the CCB tried to mislead the media by the giving them false information. “After the CCB gave wrong information that I was absconding, I told my lawyers that I will appear before police, but my lawyers pointed out that there was neither a notice in my name, nor a mention in the FIR,” argued Reddy.

Reddy’s lawyer said no notice was issued to them till he and Reddy asked for it. He added that they would have appeared earlier if the notice was issued.

“All the allegations they have attributed are false. They didn’t issue a notice either. It was only after we asked them, they issued the notice yesterday (Friday, 9 November).”

Chandrashekar, Reddy’s Lawyer

‘The Case is a Part of Political Conspiracy’

Reddy argued that the case was part of a political conspiracy. Alleging that some police officers were dragging him into the case with ill-intentions, Reddy said if there was any truth in the allegations, the cops should have shown relevant documents to the media.

Describing himself as a son of a police officer, Reddy said even though the notice requires him to appear before the CCB on Sunday, he will go to them on Saturday, 10 November, itself.

“I have not done anything wrong. If there was any truth in the allegations, let the courts be aside, the CCB could have shown some documents to the media. It is painful that they are misleading the media.”

Reddy said in the video.

“I am not worried because I have not done anything wrong,” he said while concluding the video.

A senior CCB officer told The Quint that apart from the video released by Reddy, they have not received any other communication.