Mining Baron Janardhan Reddy Arrested In Bribery Case In Bengaluru

Ballari's mining baron and former BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, who was questioned for hours in an alleged bribery case last evening, has been arrested, sources said. The former minister, who is facing multiple charges of corruption, has spent three years in jail. He is currently out on bail. 

The 49-year-old appeared for questioning at the Crime Branch office on Saturday evening after a three-day hunt by the police in Bengaluru. In a video message, he rubbished reports that he was on the run and was holed up in Hyderabad.

The bribery case involves a private enterprise, Ambident Group, which was allegedly running a Ponzi scheme and cheated thousands of depositors. Its owner Syed Ahmed Fareed claimed that after the firm came under the scanner of the authorities, he paid Rs. 18 crore to be



let off. Janardhana Reddy, who was a minister in the government headed by BS Yeddyurappa, had asked for the money during a meeting a hotel, he said.

The money was eventually paid and routed to Janardhana Reddy's aide, Syed Ahmed Fareed said.

One of the three brothers who wield enormous power in Karnataka's mining district of Ballari, Janardhan Reddy was disowned by BJP chief Amit Shah during campaigning for the assembly elections held in the state in May. 

His two brothers, Gali Karunakara Reddy and Gali Somashekhara Reddy were given ticket by the party. 

Janardhan Reddy had campaigned for them, as well his aide Sriramulu, who won the election from Ballari.

Last week, the party, however, lost the Ballari parliament seat to Congress.