Driver’s suicide note says Reddy laundered Rs 125 crore

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Dec 08, 2016 : A government driver has committed suicide, saying he was being harassed for his knowledge of mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy’s money laundering deals. K C Ramesh alias Ramesh Gowda, a native of Maddur taluk, was the official driver of Bheema Naik, Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bengaluru Urban District. Ramesh checked into Samrat Lodge on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway and killed himself by drinking poison, police said.

 

The death came to light at 6 pm on Tuesday. Ramesh was facing death threats from Naik and his second driver Mohammed, Ramesh’s brother Mahendra has told the police. Ramesh has left behind a 12-page note, saying the KAS officer helped Reddy launder Rs 125 crore for a 20% commission. He has also listed Naik’s assets and the bribes he purportedly paid officials and politicians to close corruption cases against him.

The KAS officer and Mohammed, Ramesh’s note says, were threatening him with dire consequences if he spoke about the murky deals. Naik was close to B Sreeramulu, Ballari MP. The two met frequently. Days before the ostentatious wedding of Reddy’s daughter Brahmani, Naik had met Reddy and Sreeramulu and discussed the deal, it says. “According to the note, Naik helped Reddy convert about Rs 125 crore. A major part of the note talks about assets acquired by Naik in the names of his relatives and friends. It says Naik also bribed judges and senior government officials,” a police officer said.

The note mentions the name of a senior judge of the Supreme Court who retired recently. Naik bribed a magistrate in Bengaluru to the tune of Rs 25 lakh, Ramesh’s note suggests. On October 28, 2016, Naik met Reddy and Sreeramulu at the latter’s house in Parijata Apartments in Bengaluru. They discussed financial support for Naik, who is keen to contest the 2018 Assembly elections from Hagaribommanahalli, according to Ramesh. Naik has bought property in Hagaribommanahali, Belagavi, Mariyammanahalli, Hosapete and Bengaluru, the note says.

Maddur (Mandya district): Ramesh mentions the names of Reddy and PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa’s personal secretary Nagaraju in his death note, according to sources here. The letter lists Naik’s assets, including a petrol bunk in his brother’s name, three swanky cars and a diamond ring worth Rs 50 lakh. Naik also owns a bungalow in Belagavi, besides sites, farms and shares worth Rs 5 crore, the note says.

Ramesh’s note alleges Naik handed Nagaraju Rs 25 lakh to close a departmental inquiry against him. Ramesh constantly received death threats from Naik and Mohammed as he was privy to the information, his brother has said.

Abetment case booked
The Maddur Town police have booked Bheema Naik and his driver Mohammed for abetment to suicide. Naik’s phone was switched off through the day. A senior policeman said the KAS official would be summoned for questioning.

Wedding back in focusDriver Ramesh was roped in to launder Rs 25 crore for the extravagant wedding of Brahmani, daughter of mining baron Janardhana Reddy, his suicide note indicates. The note also focuses on the wealth of Bheema Naik, who had worked as deputy tahsildar in Ballari.

Prior to the November 16 wedding, Reddy had told reporters he would account for the expenses a month after the ceremony. Janardhana Reddy’s brother Somashekhara Reddy told reporters on Wednesday no black money was used at the wedding. He said he did not know either Naik or his driver Ramesh.

Courtesy: DHNS