Ballari, 24 Jan

Police have registered a case following a complaint of fire damage and missing items at a model house owned by the wife of former minister Janardhana Reddy, officials said on Saturday. The complaint was filed at the rural police station on Friday.

Eight people, including six juveniles, were taken into custody a day after the vacant house was gutted by fire. Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman Pennekar said the juveniles are students or school dropouts, while one suspect works at a fancy store. All are children of daily wage labourers and drivers.

According to police, the group had entered the abandoned house to shoot reels and take photographs. “They set some material on fire, which led to the blaze. We are not sure if there was any specific motive, and we are not ruling out any possibility,” Pennekar said, adding that a detailed investigation was underway and evidence was being collected.

Addressing reports of missing items, the SP said no valuables were found at the site.

The house had been lying unused for several years, with broken glass panes, garbage inside and no security arrangements. There were no CCTV cameras or security staff deployed.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and Janardhana Reddy’s brother, G Somashekar Reddy, alleged that supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy were responsible for setting the house on fire. Police have not confirmed the claim.

Pennekar said property owners also bear responsibility for security, noting reports of illegal activities in layouts on the city’s outskirts. She said night patrols and security measures would be intensified.