Bengaluru: The Mandya district police suspect that a wide money laundering network exists in many parts of the State, including Bengaluru and Ballari. Ramesh, the driver of Special Land Acquisition Officer L Bheema Nayak, had alleged in his suicide note that he had converted Rs. 75 crore of black money to white for the KAS officer.
Nayak and another driver, Mohammed began to threaten Ramesh when they found Rs. 8 lakh short after the conversion, according to police sources. The district police have constituted three special teams to trace Nayak and Mohammed, both of whom are absconding.
Ramesh of Kadu Kothanahalli, near Kala Muddana Doddi of Maddur taluk, allegedly committed suicide by consuming liquor laced with pesticide on Tuesday after penning an 11-page death note. He had named mining baron and former BJP Minister Janardhan Reddy; B. Sriramulu, MP of Ballari; Special Land Acquisition Officer of Bengaluru L. Bheema Nayak; and driver Mohammed in the note.
The note accused the SLAO of helping Reddy convert Rs. 25 crore in old notes into valid currency for his daughter’s lavish wedding.
According to reliable sources, a police team from Maddur town visited Nayak’s office in Bengaluru and verified the records and his attendance register before enquiring with the staff about his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has said that he has sought a report from the Revenue Secretary on the allegations that Special Land Acquisition Officer L. Bheema Nayak had extended assistance to mining baron Janardhan Reddy, to convert Rs. 25 crore in demonetised notes into new currency.
