HYDERABAD: The Central Crime Station (CCS) has registered cases against Bhanu Kiran, prime suspect in the killing of faction leader G Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelacheruvu Suri, and film producer Singanamala Ramesh and others for allegedly threatening a woman from whom they had taken money for producing a film.
Though the incident took place in October last, the victim gathered courage to register a case only after the recent killing of Suri and police registering cases against Bhanu Kiran.
“Several persons, including two from Anantapur, came to us with similar complaints but we are considering whether they fall in our jurisdiction before registering a case," an official of CCS said.
A woman, Jayanthi Reddy of Jubilee Hills approached CCS two days back alleging that Ramesh, who produced big budget movies like 'Khaleja' and 'Komaram Puli', had approached her for money in March 2008 to produce a film.
Ramesh is a family friend and neighbour of Jayanthi Reddy.
According to CCS deputy commissioner of police J Satyanarayana, Jayanthi pledged her property in a bank and gave him Rs 7.62 crore in two instalments. Ramesh, however, did not pay the loan instalments and the bank approached Jayanthi for the payment.
As Jayanthi started to pressurise him, Ramesh took her to the Balaji Colour Lab at Film Nagar in October 2010 where Bhanu was present.
“They threatened Jayanthi with dire consequences and asked her to forget her money if she wanted to live," Satyanarayana said. Ramesh’s wife, Vidhyadhari, was also present when the threat was made.
The trio told the woman they had the backing of Suri and she would come to harm if she insisted on repayment.
Though there were reports that Jayanthi was threatened with a firearm, police did not confirm it.
Terrified, Jayanthi Reddy did not dare lodge a complaint then. After Suri’s killing, she approached the CCS.