The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Visa racket accused pleads innocence

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Visa racket accused pleads innocence

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: G. Venkat Reddy, one of the accused in the visa racket case involving film industry personnel, on Wednesday appealed to mediapersons not to focus on him as he was a ‘small man’.

Speaking to reporters after he was brought here by the Chennai police, Reddy remarked that media focus on his was unjustified. “I already told the police whatever details I have. Your focus on me might drive me to suicide,” he remarked.

Earlier, a Chennai special police team brought him to Nampally. He was later taken to Goshamahal ACP office premises.

After questioning him there for some time, the Chennai police team, with the help of a couple of city police officials, took Reddy to some localities in the city as part of the investigation.

Shows Yousufguda flat

Reddy showed his flat in Vamshi Residency at Yousfuguda and a couple of other houses of the same area to the police.

A couple of police officials went to the apartment building watchman and grilled him for a few minutes leaving Reddy in the vehicle while other team members stood guard.

Later, Reddy showed them another private office in Maithrivanam building.

Speaking to a television news channel after stopping at a hotel in Secunderabad, Reddy maintained that he was not connected with the visa racket.

“I flew to America thrice earlier and returned to India. If human smuggling allegation was true, why would I come back to India,” he asked.

‘Family friend’

He admitted that D. Srilata, who was arrested along with him and film actress Flora Saini, was his family friend. Reddy stated that he tried to help her fly to America. He was taken back to Chennai in the evening.

Meanwhile, police sources told The Hindu that the Chennai police could not secure any vital clues with regard to Srinivas, prime suspect believed to have arranged fake documents presented by Saini and Srilata at the American Consulate, Chennai. It is learnt that Reddy paid Rs. 10,000 to Srinivas to arrange the fake documents on behalf of Srilata.

When contacted, City Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao said that no fresh case would be registered by the Hyderabad police in connection with the visa racket as there was no material evidence.

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