Ballari: Five days after his daughter Brahmini’s ostentatious wedding in Bengaluru, officers of the Income Tax department raided the office of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by former minister and mine baron Gali Janardhan Reddy here on Monday. The officers, who served a notice along with a questionnaire on Mr Reddy, also searched offices of various firms—seven in Bengaluru and three in Hyderabad—hired for the mega buck wedding.
The former minister has been asked to submit his reply to the questionnaire before November 25. They visited the office when Mr Reddy and his kin were away visiting his son-in-law Rajeev Reddy in Hyderabad. Incidentally, November 21 was last day for Mr Reddy’s stay in this mining hub after he secured a bail relaxation from the Supreme Court in connection with his daughter’s wedding. Official sources said the officers, who cordoned off the office soon after their arrival at 12.30 PM, were examining a number of documents through the day. They checked the account books, payment receipts and contract portfolios of these firms which specialise in creating a special ambience and customised display for high-end spending clientele during weddings. At Brahmini’s wedding, they had provided special Swiss tents and expensive cutlery besides serving an elaborate spread during lunch and dinner. Governor Vajubhai Vala, home minister and KPCC president Dr G Parameshwara, energy minister D K Shivakumar, RDPR minister H K Patil, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders had attended the wedding. The grandeur of the wedding was such that replicas of Vijaya Vitthala temple of Hampi, the seat of the glorious erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, and Tirumala Tirupati temple were erected at the venue, along with the replicas of the homes of both the bride and groom. A day before the five day-long wedding celebrations, RTI activist T Narsimha Murthy had filed a complaint with the top brass of Income Tax department.
