The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Held on `intimidation, extortion' charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Held on `intimidation, extortion' charges

Staff Reporter

Accused drops Jaganmohan Reddy's name to settle land dispute

LANDING IN TROUBLE: The Task Force DCP, M. Shiva Prasad, with the accused, T. Ravinder Reddy, in Hyderabad on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: A Congress party worker, T. Ravinder Reddy, who allegedly used the name of the Chief Minister's son, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, to settle a land dispute was arrested by Task Force sleuths here on Saturday.

Ravinder Reddy reportedly threatened Narayana Rao, former vice-president of Venkateswara Housing Society, Banjara Hills, and tried to extort money from him.

Giving the details to newsmen, the Task Force DCP, M. Shiva Prasad, said that one Ramaswamy had registered himself as member of the society and invested money in a plot in 1991 during which period Narayana Rao was the vice-president.

However, no plot was allotted to Ramaswamy. After he passed away a few years ago, his son, Neelamber, decided to take up the issue. He approached his friend, Ravinder Reddy, and sought his help.

Threat calls

In December last year, Ravinder Reddy, along with his relative, Jaipal Reddy, met Narayana Rao and allegedly told him that he was "Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy's man" and threatened him with serious consequences if he failed to sort out the matter. He was also reported to have demanded Rs. 20 lakhs from him.

Following the threat, Narayana Rao lodged a complaint with the Banjara Hills police. In the last few days, the accused person had been making threatening calls to Narayana Rao. The police arrested Ravinder, a native of Nalgonda district, at Srinagar Colony in the city.

"I used his (Jagan) name to do some good. I am a software professional. I recently got a job offer from the UK. I never met Jagan. I want to apologise to him. Narayana Rao lodged false complaints against me," he told reporters. Jaipal Reddy is absconding.

Meanwhile, the police said that the complainant was allegedly responsible for several scams in the society during his tenure as vice-president. "He used to forge signatures and sell away plots to different persons," an official said, adding that the ACB and CID wings were investigating into the large-scale irregularities.

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