The name of mining baron and former BJP Minister Janardhan Reddy has cropped up in the alleged suicide note of a 30-year-old driver of a Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) of Bengaluru.
In the note, the driver allegedly accuses the officer of helping Mr. Reddy convert Rs. 25 crore in old notes into new currency ahead of his daughter’s lavish wedding.
The 11-page ''suicide note'' says that K.C. Ramesh of Kadu Kothanahalli, who allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide mixed with liquor at a lodge at Shivapura in Maddur, was “severely harassed” and “threatened” by KAS-rank officer L. Bheema Nayak and another driver, Mohammed, as he was aware of the “illegalities and corrupt practices” of Mr. Nayak and his role in money laundering.
Sources in the Maddur police station said that the note also alleged that Mr. Nayak had Rs. 100 crore worth property in different parts of the State. It said that he had converted Rs. 25 crore worth devalued currency of Mr. Reddy for a commission.
Mr. Nayak was an acquaintance of former Minister B. Sriramulu, BJP MP, and a close aide of Mr. Reddy, it said. Talking about the other alleged illegally acquired properties of the officer, the note said he and his family members had purchased crores of rupees worth jewellery, luxury vehicles and properties at Yelahanka, Attur, Hospete in Ballari and other places, the sources said.
A case had been registered under Section 306 (abettment to suicide). Investigation was on, said Mathew Thomas, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Malavalli subdivision).
Ramesh’s relatives stage protest, demand CBI probe
Ramesh’s relatives staged a protest outside the mortuary of the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital on Wednesday, while the post mortem of his body was being conducted.
They demanded action against the Special Land Acquisition Officer and Mohammed and also a probe by the CBI.
The police said that Mr. Ramesh checked into the lodge on Sunday and reportedly partied with two friends.
Later, he allegedly bought a bottle of pesticide from a nearby shop, mixed it with liquor and consumed it on Tuesday.
One of his friends tried to call his cellphone on Tuesday but did not get a response. His friend then rushed to the lodge and knocked on the door. When there was no response, the lodge personnel broke open the door, only to find Ramesh dead.
The police are yet to make any arrests or summon anyone for questioning.
The police said they would summon Mr. Naik for an inquiry and later referred the case to the authorities concerned for further action.
Meanwhile, at Ballari, G. Somashekar Reddy, former MLA and elder brother of Mr. Janardhan Reddy, denied that the family even knew Mr. Naik or the drivers.
“Who are Bheema Nayak and K.C. Ramesh,” he asked, while responding to questions by presspersons here on Wednesday with regard to the death note.
Mr. Somashekar Reddy said that the allegations might be an attempt by opponents to tarnish the family’s image.
He maintained that Mr. Janardhan Reddy performed his daughter’s marriage recently using “white money” and the question of having black money did not arise at all.
