Much to everyone’s disappointment, it turns out that the golden gaddi owned by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy is a case of all that glitters is not gold.
The CBI found that it is only a gold-coated chair and not made of the yellow metal totally as had been rumoured. The agency actually got it tested in its attempt to gauge the ill-gotten wealth of Mr Reddy who is currently cooling his heels in a Bengaluru jail, accused of being the kingpin in a major mining scam.
The CBI seized the gold chair when Mr Reddy was arrested in September 2011. In fact, it was reported that Mr Reddy was actually sitting on the chair when the CBI raided his house.
The chair may not have been solid gold, but the CBI seized 67 kg of gold ornaments as well as cash during the raid, amounting to `15 crores.
Meanwhile, the special court for CBI cases has reserved orders on Mr Reddy’s petition to release his vehicles to June 12.
Mr Reddy has earlier filed a petition requesting the handing over of his vehicles, including his helicopter, a BELL 407, to his family as the vehicles need to be maintained regularly.
Meanwhile, the court has also reserved its orders to June 14 on CBI petition for PT warrant to be issued for Mr Reddy’s assistant Mehfuz Ali Khan for questioning in the OMC case.
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‘Fish’ medicine: 1 dead, 20 hurt in ap stampede
Hyderabad, June 8: One person died and over 20 others were injured in a stampede when thousands of people rushed for fish “prasadam” (fish medicine for asthma patients) at Katedan stadium here, officials said.
The stampede occurred when a huge crowd rushed to get the medicine when the gates were opened at the distribution site, they said. A man named Gorakh Patel (believed to be in his 60s and also suffering from a heart ailment) fell down during the stampede and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but he died on the way, they said, adding that over 20 persons, including women, were treated for minor injuries.
Over two lakh people from different parts of the country were already administered the medicine at the event, organised by the Bathini Mrigasira Trust that provides the free medicine that some believe provides miraculous relief to asthma patients, an official said. “Additional counters have been opened and things are now put in order,” the official said.
However, several complained that no proper arrangements were made at the distribution site.
— PTI