Industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad, the third-accused in the Vadarevu Nizampatnam Ports and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) aspect of the quid pro quo investments case, on Thursday appealed to a special court here to grant him bails since the investigation into the case was over.
Arguing for Mr. Prasad, senior counsel E. Umamaheshwar Rao contended that the CBI’s apprehension that Mr. Prasad could tamper with evidence or threaten witnesses was misplaced since he had no power over government officials, public servants and ministers and he was only an investor.
Counsel for suspended senior bureaucrat of Railways K.V. Brahmananda Reddy, the sixth-accused in the case, said his client had merely signed the documents as directed by his superiors in the Infrastructure & Investments Department and he was not a beneficiary either directly or indirectly in any manner. Counsels for the two accused also argued that keeping their clients continuously in detention would violate their right to freedom and that they could not defend themselves properly during the trial.
The CBI counsel contended that the two accused were still influential and could tamper with evidence or threaten witnesses if let off on bail. The Judge reserved his orders in both the petitions to October 7.
Meanwhile, counsel for the seventh-accused in Emaar properties case N. Sunil Reddy said his client was falsely implicated in the case by CBI based on the deposition of an accused who turned an approver and he be granted bail. However, the CBI counsel argued that they had evidence of huge money reaching his companies from Emaar and bail to him would allow him tamper with the evidence. The Judge reserved his orders to October 5.
