OMC mining case: The bail is in CBI Court

Y Srilakshmi, Senior IAS Officer

While investigating major scams, involving crores of rupees of public money, and with the arrest of prominent persons, including a minister and two public servants, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also ran into a number of bail pleas filed by the accused. The agency, while investigating the cases on one hand, ended up fighting all these bail petitions on the other.The CBI is investigating three major cases currentlythe Obulapuram mining case involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy, Emaar irregularities involving Koneru Prasad, chairman of the Trimex group and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's illegal assets case.In the three cases, the CBI arrested six persons: Gali Janardhan Reddy, his brotherinlaw BV Srinivas Reddy, IAS officer Y Srilakshmi and former vicechairman and managing director of APMDC VD Rajgopal, Koneru Prasad of Emaar Properties and V Vijay Sai Reddy of Jagathi Publication.The special CBI court granted bail to Y Srilakshmi and V D Rajgopal. Srilakshmi was granted bail on the grounds of illhealth and special consideration extended to a woman, while Rajgopal got bail because of his 34 years of track record as a public servant and also on health grounds. However, the CBI court reserved Rajgiopal's bail order soon after it was granted when the CBI opposed the bail.The case is still is pending in the High Court. Srilakshmi filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court after the AP High Court dismissed the local court's bail order and she was asked to surrender before the court by January 6. The CBI is likely to file caveat in the Supreme Court challenging Srilakshmi's special leave petition.The key accused in OMC case, Gali Janardhan Reddy and his brotherinlaw B V Srinivas Reddy have filed a petition seeking bail before the CBI court for the fifth time. The previous four petitions were dismissed by the court when the CBI said that the accused were highly influential and they may influence witnesses if they were let off on bail.The CBI court posted the hearings on the fifth bail petition to January 11. The accused mentioned several grounds in their respective petitionsthe CBI has submitted the chargesheet already in connection with the OMC case, their family members are facing various problems etc. Earlier, the accused filed a petition seeking escort bail for twodays on December 31 and January 1 to attend the death anniversary of Janardhan Reddy's mother , which the court dismissed.Koneru Prasad filed three bail petitions, including an interim bail of seven days for his pilgrimage to Sabarimala. While granting interim bail, the CBI court dismissed one bail petition of Prasad and hearings on the fresh petition are going on. Koneru sought bail on the grounds of illhealth, as he is suffering from fits.He also submitted some medical documents issued by hospitals on his health condition. Meanwhile, Gali Janardhan Reddy, B V Srinivas Reddy, V D Rajgopal and Koneru Prasad were granted special rooms by the CBI court as per the AP Prisons Act.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com