Indian businessman released on $ 10 mn bail in Berkeley sex case

But as court officials worked out the conditions of his release Tuesday, police arrested his son on suspicion of falsifying documents and taking part in a scheme to bring illegal immigrants from India.

Reddy is the largest single landlord in Berkeley, with property holdings estimated at between 50 million and 60 million dollars.

Members of Reddy’s family who attended his Tuesday bail hearing spent an hour signing over 10 million dollars worth of property as collateral to insure Reddy does not flee country.

Reddy’s son, Vijay, was holding his 18-month-old twin children when police took him into custody during hisfather’s hearing.

Vijay Reddy charged with faking skilled worker visa applications for Indian migrants who wound up working for low wages at his father’s rental properties or the family restaurant in Berkeley.

Vijay was released after assuring authorities he would appear for a hearing on Friday.

Reddy was arrested on January 14. Police believe he brought at least three girls here from his home city of Velvadam and used them as sex slaves. Reddy’s lawyer has maintained his client’s innocence.

The case against Lakireddy Reddy developed after Sithavemi Reddy, 17, died of carbon monoxide poisoning in one of his Berkeley apartmentsSitha and her 15-year-old sister were found unconscious in the apartment on November 24. Sitha died, but her sister who was not identified due to her age recovered. Sitha’s sister told investigators she was given to Reddy at age 12 by her parents, and that their sexual relationship continued after both girls came to United States in August.

A woman who lived in the apartmentwith the sisters has also told police she was 14 when she was sold to Reddy, who brought her to California.

US immigration officials said they began watching Reddy several years ago, after anonymous allegations that he was bringing people in from India illegally.

Investigators for the immigration and naturalisation service allege Reddy had paid Venkateswara Vemireddy and his sister, Lakshmi Garireddy, to pose as the parents of Sitha and her sister and escort the girls into the United States.