B. Rama Raju, managing director of the scam-tainted Satyam Computers, Vadlamani Srinivas, Chief Financial Officer, and three others were ordered to be released on conditional bail by Justice Raja Elango of the A.P. High Court on Tuesday.
The others are Ramakrishna, Vice-President, Finance, Ch. Srisailam and Venkatapathi Raju, former employees of Satyam Computers. However, the prime accused and Rama Raju's brother, B. Ramalinga Raju continues to be in judicial custody. He is presently lodged in the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, for treatment of Hepatitis C and is locked in a legal battle with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the mode of examining him before the court. Justice Raja Elango, who was dealing with the petitions filed by the five accused, pointed out that the prosecution had declared the trial will be over within six months and then contended that there was further investigation and an additional charge sheet.
The Judge took into consideration the arguments on behalf of the accused that they may not be able to tamper with the records as most of the documents were with the court and the company was under a new management and there may not be any access to the documents or other employees to influence them.
The judge also had taken into consideration the judgment of Supreme Court which had granted conditional bail to one of the auditors.
Justice Elango said that the accused shall submit two sureties of Rs. 20 lakh each and make themselves available to the investigation officers.
They have to regularly present themselves before the police station and desist from influencing the witnesses. It was made clear that the order in this bail petition did not amount to expressing any opinion on merits of the case which is being tried in a special criminal court.
However, the accused could not be released from jail as the various legal formalities could not be completed.
