Finally, Janardhan Reddy is released

Four days after getting bail from the Supreme Court, mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy was finally released from the central prison at Parappana Agrahara, near here, at 4.45 p.m. on Friday.

Seated in his sedan, Mr. Reddy waved at an enthusiastic crowd waiting outside the jail before heading to his house ‘Parijata’, near Basaveshwara Circle. His supporters cheered and burst crackers to celebrate his release. He was followed by his friends B. Sriramulu, MP, J. Shanta, former MP, and Nagendra, MLA, among others.

Mr. Reddy stayed on the jail premises to wait for an ‘auspicious’ time to exit. He will be taken to a private hospital for a medical check-up since he is suffering from back ache and minor aliments, police sources said.

The police had made elaborate security arrangements, in addition to imposing prohibitory orders, to keep Mr. Reddy’s supporters under check. Some staunch supporters offered ‘Ksheeraabhisheka’ (anointing with milk) to a cut-out of Mr. Reddy and burst crackers as soon as the mining baron’s car passed by. They shouted slogans as well. Police had stopped the traffic movement on the road for few hours to allow Mr. Reddy’s car to pass the Parappana Agrahara road.

Mr. Reddy’s advocate C.H. Hanumantharaya said the delay in his client’s release was subsequent to the delay in submitting documents for the surety.

Ballari relatively quiet

Ballari Special Correspondent writes: Contrary to the frenzy in Bengaluru, Mr. Reddy’s home town, Ballari, remained relatively quiet on Friday.

Except for bursting of crackers at a few localities, there was not much of celebration.

The celebrations were over as soon as the news of Mr. Reddy obtaining bail came out on January 20.

Firecrackers were burst and sweets distributed and in some places sumptuous biriyani was also served to commemorate the occasion.

Mr. Sriramulu, T.H. Suresh Babu, Kampli MLA; G. Somashekar Reddy, former Minister and elder brother of Mr. Janardhan Reddy; and Ms. Shanta, along with several admirers and supporters had left for Bengaluru to receive the former Minister on Friday.