Anonymous letter to consulate set off investigation

Anonymous letter to consulate set off investigation
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

VIJAYAWADA, JANUARY 23: It was an anonymous letter to the US Consulate in Chennai that reportedly set off the American investigation against Lakireddy Bali Reddy, now facing charges in a Berkeley sex scandal case.

According to sources, a villager from Velvadam, Bali Reddy native place in Krishna district, sent the letter to the consulate. He also sent similar letters to American authorities in the USA. They carried details about Bali Reddy's alleged discrepancies in obtaining immigration visas for men and women to be employed in his hotels there and Reddy has subsequently been charged with `importing girls for prostitution'.

After receiving the letter, some visa applications from the area were rejected. In certain cases, inquiries were also conducted to ascertain the facts mentioned in the visa forms.

Vemireddy Sita's (17) accidental death in the Berkeley flat hastened the investigation and charges relating to visa violation were framed against him.Bali Reddy is a master of science (MS) in chemicalengineering. After graduation, he left for the USA in 1959 for higher studies.

He worked in an engineering firm before he ventured into real estate business there. His brother Venkateswara Reddy admits that Bali Reddy owns about a thousand flats. The real estate business in the US has paid him rich dividends in a short span of time. Before 1975, he had three buildings in the US.

In 1975, he opened South Indian restaurant, Madras Cuisine at Berkeley and Santa Clara. He took experienced cooks from coastal Andhra, particularly Krishna district, and employed them in the hotels.

Later, he and his two brothers opened two more hotels. However, they are now closed down due to "want of staff". In 1987, he introduced North Indian dishes.

The opening of South Indian restaurants changed the fortunes of the Lakireddy brothers. "Initially, we employed experienced persons. Later, even unskilled were trained and recruited. Board and lodge is provided free. The salaries are paid as per the local rules,'' VenkateswaraReddy said.

Referring to the carbon monoxide poisoning case, he said all the rooms in the apartment allotted to employees were airtight. The building with 105 units was constructed in 1964. Bali Reddy bought it only last year. The blockade in the vent pipe must have caused Sita's death. The CO level was found to be 20 times higher in the room. "The investigating agencies did not suspect any foul play," he pointed out.

Back home, Bali Reddy established a charitable trust and a kalapeetham recently to "take up service activities". He visits the village twice a year and conducts competitions for youth.