Karnataka: ED Launches Raids On Properties Linked to Bellary Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy

The MLA's father's office, his uncle Pratha Reddy's residence, and an office situated in Chennai were also raided.

The search commenced at Nara Bharath Reddy's residence in Ballari at 6:30 a.m.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) started to raid six properties associated with Bellary Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy on Saturday. The search locations included the MLA's residences in Bellary and Bengaluru and his personal office. 

The MLA's father's office, his uncle Pratha Reddy's residence and an office situated in Chennai were also raided. The search commenced at his residence in Bellary with a team of officers from Bengaluru at 6:30 AM.

Meanwhile, it may be recalled that the MLA previously distributed pressure cookers throughout the city of Bellary on his birthday.

The money laundering allegations against Reddy originated from an FIR filed by the Karnataka Police, focusing on suspicions regarding land transactions currently under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Additionally, the agency is probing certain mining and quarrying enterprises purportedly associated with the MLA.

Bharath is a prominent figure in the Congress party, while his father, Nara Suryanarayan, transitioned from being a former Janata Dal Secular JD(S) MLA to joining the Congress in 2014. It's noteworthy that until 1999, Bellary was traditionally a political stronghold of the Congress party.

Bharath was elected as a MLA from Bellary after the Karnataka Elections 2022. Furthermore, in the 2022 Assembly Elections in the state, the Congress party achieved victory and fixed its position in the state's political landscape.

Meanwhile, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the premises of three real estate promoters in Tamil Nadu on Friday, an official confirmed. Sources informed IANS that the raids were carried out in connection with allegations of money laundering. The ED's actions stem from a case registered by the Tamil Nadu unit of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

According to DVAC reports, an FIR has been filed against T. Udayakumar, Sunil Khetpalia, and Maneesh Parmar, who are proprietors and promoters of real estate companies, namely M/s Landmark Housing Projects and KLP Projects, respectively.