Janardhan Reddy and KAS Officer Bheema Nayak Accused of Laundering Rs 100 Crore In Driver's Suicide Note

The Rs 500 crore wedding of G Janardhan Reddy’s daughter drew a lot of flak when the country was facing a cash crunch post the demonetization announcement. He is again at the centre of a fresh scandal. The driver of a Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) Officer committed suicide and held Reddy and the officer responsible. In his note, the driver claimed that Janardhan Reddy laundered Rs 100 crore for his daughter’s wedding.

Ramesh Gowda, the driver, worked for a special land acquisition officer Bheema Nayak in Bengaluru. He committed suicide by consuming poison in Maddur, Karnataka. He alleged “mental torture” for being aware of information that Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader had converted black money worth Rs 100 crore to white. The note also stated that the mining baron paid a commission of 20% to Bheema Nayak, as reported by News 18.

Ramesh accused Reddy and Nayak for harassing him and for continuously delivering death threats for being privy to the information of Reddy’s alleged corrupt practice. He also claimed in his suicide note that KAS officer helped Reddy convert the black money required for his daughter’s extravagant wedding.

A case has been registered against Bheema Nayak and the other driver Mohammed.

The handwritten note said that Bheema Nayak met Reddy and BJP MP Sriramulu on 28 October in a guest house with another person. They discussed contesting Assembly elections from Hagaribommanahalli constituency in 2018 and agreed to give Rs 25 crore for it.

Bheema Nayak went to a hotel on 15 November and claimed to Ramesh about giving white money worth Rs 25 crore to Reddy for his daughter’s wedding. He then visited Sriramulu at another hotel frequently, as alleged in the note. Ramesh also mentioned the registration numbers of the vehicles.

The notes of worth Rs 100 crore in denominations of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 were converted to Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 2000 notes by Bheema, as reported by The Economic Times.

Reddy came under IT department’s scanner soon after his daughter’s wedding asking him to explain the expenditure. On 21 November, the IT department officials raided Reddy’s mining firm.

Points to Ponder

Time and again, it is being proved in the country that with money and power, one can do just about anything. There is no fear of the law or the judicial process. Not only did these people commit a crime openly, they also bullied an innocent man enough to kill himself. How then can the common man have faith in the system? Who do we approach for protection?

And while the rest of the country is struggling with lack of new currency notes, how are the people in power getting access to crores worth new notes?

All these cases only reinforce the idea that there is not place for honest, just, and hard working people. How will youngsters and people get involved in the change-making process if they have to work in constant fear of their lives?