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Media MentionDesiClub.com: "ASATA's Candlelight Vigil: Memorial for the Victims"DesiClub.com In Berkeley, Stattack Ave. is a large street that runs through the small college town. The street includes several shops, movie theaters, and the famous Pasand Madras Restaurant. The famous restaurant is owned by the infamous Lakireddy Bali Reddy, who's serving an 8 year sentence for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, transporting a minor in foreign commerce for illegal sexual activity, and subscribing to a false tax return. AsianWeek: "A Call to Action: Groups gather to remember death of Pratipatti"AsianWeek One year after the death of 17-year-old Chanti Pratipatti that brought to light the alleged immigrant trafficking operation of Berkeley landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy and his family, some 100 community members and South Asian American activists gathered to honor her memory and speak out against sexual and labor exploitation. Silicon Raj: "Anger and disappointment""Anger and disappointment" Demonstrators organized by Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) protest in front of the Madras Pasand Cuisine in Berkeley, owned by Lakireddy Bali Reddy. Daily Californian: "Landlord’s Legal Battles Continue"Daily Californian Lakireddy Bali Reddy, a Berkeley landlord charged with illegally importing Indian girls for sex, is facing a civil suit, filed Monday, charging that he is partially responsible for the death of one of the girls. The girl's family filed the lawsuit, which stems for the death — ruled accidental — that led to the federal investigation of Reddy. Jinn Magazine: "South Asian Activism Shatters Image Of Affluence"Jinn Magazine Immigrants from India and Pakistan have played a very important role as innovators and engineers in the growth of the computer industry, and many have enjoyed considerable rewards. But a far less prominent image of South Asians is beginning to make itself known as a force to be reckoned with. PNS correspondent Raj Jayadev is the Silicon Valley/Digital Divide editor for YO! Youth Outlook, a monthly newspaper Berkeley Daily Planet: "Reddy case could get new defendants"Berkeley Daily Planet OAKLAND – A federal judge did not hear motions Tuesday to dismiss some of the charges against Berkeley landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy and his son accused of sex and immigration offenses. Instead U.S. District Court Judge Sandra B. Armstrong gave the prosecution the time it requested to add new defendants to the case. Daily Californian: "Judge Denies Dismissal, Landlord Trial Continues"Daily Californian OAKLAND — What seemed to be a small ruling in U.S. Federal Court yesterday was another thorn in the defense of Lakireddy Bali Reddy, owner of two prominent Berkeley businesses, Reddy Realty and Pasand Madras Indian Cuisine. Judge Saundra Armstrong denied a motion brought by Reddy's lawyers to dismiss two counts of felony charges against him. San Jose Mercury News: "Prosecution net to widen in case of landlord importing workers"San Jose Mercury News SAN JOSE, Calif. _ A federal prosecutor said in court Tuesday that the investigation into a sex-and-fraud case against a prominent Berkeley landlord is widening, indicating that more arrests are likely. Appearing in an Oakland courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy said a grand jury is expected to "add additional defendants" by Oct. 5 in the case against Lakireddy Bali Reddy, 62, and his son, Vijay Kumar Lakireddy, 30. Daily Californian: "Berkeley Landlord Hearing Delayed"Daily Californian OAKLAND — Lakireddy Bali Reddy, the Berkeley landowner charged with importing Indian girls for sex, did not plead guilty as expected today, due in part to his and his family's refusals to admit guilt in public, according to an American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson. KPIX Eyewitness News: "Landlord"KPIX Channel 5 Eyewitness News START: 0.30 Berkeley landlord and son in court today, demanding reporters be closed out of courtroom. Visual - suspects entering court. The judge refused to close courtroom, causing defendants to delay entering their plea. Sound Bites - Atty Lucas Guttentag; comments on case. Sound Bites - Jayashari Spikantiah, ACLU Immigrant Attorney; comments on case. Oakland Tribune: "Poverty Linked to Exploitation of Women"Oakland Tribune OAKLAND -- Sexual exploitation is a tool used globally to maintain class and gender inequalities, agreed a panel of women meeting Saturday at Mills College to discuss issues surrounding the trafficking of women and girls. People in positions of power, such as policy-makers and the media, need to stop penalizing female victims by perpetuating stereotypes and concentrate on stopping the exploitation, panel members agreed. Berkeley Daily Planet: "Women: Focus on alleged victims"Berkeley Daily Planet OAKLAND – Inside a federal courtroom Tuesday, the case of the United States vs. Berkeley landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy and his son Vijay Lakireddy was in its pre-trial stages. But outside the courts a dozen mostly South Asian women held placards denouncing the exploitation of foreign workers and of women. They asked those going into the courts to focus their attention less on the men on trial, then on their alleged victims. Daily Californian: "Prosecutors to Add Charges Against Reddy and Son"Daily Californian OAKLAND — Federal prosecutors said at a hearing yesterday that they expect to expand the charges against Berkeley landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy and his son, Vijay Kumar Lakireddy, to include more alleged victims. Daily Californian: "Attorney’s Actions in Reddy Case Excused"Daily Californian OAKLAND — Berkeley City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque should not be subject to disciplinary action for her comments about the Reddy case, a federal judge ruled yesterday. The city attorney had testified at an earlier hearing before U.S. Magistrate Wayne Brazil that Lakireddy Bali Reddy, the wealthy Berkeley landlord, had not called 911 after the Nov. 24 death of Chanti Prattipati. Based on police reports, Albuquerque had also testified that Reddy and his son, Vijay Kumar Lakireddy, had been seen stowing Prattipati's body in a Reddy Realty van.  |