Arrested MLA 'exposes' blackmail tactics of Janardhana Reddy
Narayana Swamy
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 7: Former Karnataka tourism minister Janardhana Reddy who has been in jail for the last 25 months has been once again exposed by his one-time friend and recently arrested independent MLA Nagendra in the illegal mining case.
"I was forced to pay Rs 68 crore as 'hafta' to Janardhana Reddy. He blackmailed me after fixing me in the illegal mining work. He was the minister in the BJP government, and I was forced to do illegal business in Belekeri iron ore export," Nagendra reportedly confessed before the CBI sleuths here.
As per his statement, Janardana Reddy had divided Bellary mining empire into three parts. Another arrested MLA from BSR Congress, Suresh Babu, Independent MLA Nagendra, and Ali Khan, a close associate of Janardhana Reddy had been given the responsibility to collect hafta from 52 mine owners from his empire. Total weekly collection would be approximately Rs 150 crore, from which half the amount would go to Janardhana Reddy and rest would remain with these three hafta collectors.
There were 52 active mine exporters who were exporting ore from Bellary. Everyday, 250 to 300 truck loads would move from Bellary to Belekeri port. Government permission was granted for only 50 trucks per day, but permits for the rest of the 200-250 trucks were forged. The owners of mines had to pay 50% of load money to Reddy, while Rs 1000 per load was given as bribe to government officers.
It is said that about 2 lac metric tons of iron ore was exported from Belekeri port.
"If I had refused the orders of Janardhana Reddy, I would have gone to jail three years back," MLA Nagendra reportedly said in his confessin before the CBI investigating officers.