CBI raids residences of Reddy's close aides

The Central Bureau of Investigation Sunday conducted searches at the residences of two close aides of former Karnataka Minister G Janardhana Reddy, who has been arrested in connection with illegal mining, and claimed to have seized several documents.

Official sources said an 11-member CBI team headed by Superintendent of Police Venkatesh from Hyderabad swooped down on the residence of Gurulinge Gowda, Chairman of the Bellary Urban Development Authority located at Renukacharya Nagara Sunday morning.

The team also conducted searches at the residence of Rajashekara Gowda, a Gram Panchayat member and confidant of Reddy, they said.

The sources claimed that several documents have been seized during the raids. They said the CBI team might conduct searches on the premises of some more associates of Reddy, who is now in a jail in Hyderabad after his arrest on September 5 by the agency in connection with illegal mining.