The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Never interacted with Azeez: film producer

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Monday, May 05, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Never interacted with Azeez: film producer

Staff Reporter

Nikhil Reddy comes to police station to seek protection following threats

HYDERABAD: The death of gangster Azeez Reddy in an encounter at Jubilee Hills on Wednesday night took a different twist on Sunday with film producer Nikhil Reddy stating that he never had any sort of direct interaction with the slain gangster.

Police earlier said Azeez Reddy had threatened the producer to compromise in a dispute with his partner Abhinav Reddy.

“I used to get threatening calls from Abhinav’s mobile since April 5 demanding repayment of Rs.40 lakh. On every occasion Abhinav told me that it was Azeez Reddy who wanted to speak with me on phone to settle the issue. But I had not seen him or spoken to him,” Nikhil Reddy told reporters at the Banjara Hills police station.

He came to the police station to seek protection following threat from gangsters. Earlier in the day, high drama prevailed over Nikhil Reddy’s appearance before the media. After informing that he would speak with reporters at Amberpet, he did not turn up. The producer later arrived at the Banjara Hills police station.

A dispute ensued between Nikhil and Abhinav over repayment of Rs.40 lakh. Abhinav gave the amount for making ‘Angreez-II’. Even before the film’s release, he started demanding the money and allegedly took the assistance of gangsters. “I promised to pay the amount soon, but they did not heed to my pleas and continued to threaten me. Unidentified persons claiming to be the associates of Azeez Reddy attacked the film crew last month,” Nikhil Reddy said. He released CDs containing conversations recorded on mobile phones. Banjara Hills Inspector E. Shankar Reddy said that a decision regarding security to the producer would be taken after discussing it with higher officials.

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