Reddy denies allegations of intimidating Ramaji Rao

New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has denied allegations that his government attempted to intimidate media baron Ramaji Rao and his finance company ''Margadarsi Financiers'' because their newspaper Eenadu had made corruption charges against his family.

The newspaper had levelled charges of corruption against Dr Reddy's government and his family in the outer ring road scandal.

Denying the allegations, the Chief Minister said, ''This is totally unfounded and baseless. I'm not here to intimidate anyone.'' ''When the allegations were made, I immediately asked for CBI and judicial inquiries. Had there been anything to hide, why would I do all this,'' he told a private TV channel.

When asked why he appointed a special advisor and order a CID inquiry into the issue of Margadarsi Financiers when the RBI was already looking into the matter, he said, ''if somebody does anything illegal, the government will act against him.'' ''The government had acted as per law and had done its duty.

It's nothing less and nothing more,'' he said.

UNI