The bail petitions of the former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and managing director of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) B.V. Srinivas Reddy could not be considered on Wednesday as the court deferred the hearing as also another application by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking their custody for interrogation.
When the proceedings began in the special court for CBI cases, Public prosecutor Balla Ravindranath said he could not advance any argument on bail applications unless the case relating to custody was disposed. Judge B. Nagamaruthi Sarma suggested to the prosecution to file its view on the bail pleas by evening so that arguments in both the applications could be taken up on Thursday morning.
Opposing bail for Mr. Janardhan Reddy and Mr. Srinivas Reddy, now lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Prison, the CBI expressed the apprehension that they might flee the country and tamper with evidence. Moreover, a lot of investigation was still left to know the role of forest and mining officials in the activities of the OMC. The agency might have to carry out extensive searches on the basis of information ferreted out from the accused. The possibility of Mr. Janardhan Reddy threatening witnesses using his clout was also not ruled out.
On the other hand, Mr. Janardhan Reddy pleaded in his bail application that he owned a bungalow in Jubilee Hills here and that he would remain there under the supervision of the CBI after surrendering his passport. He would not leave the country without the permission of the CBI. Both the accused said the CBI's remand report was culled out from the ‘ex parte' report of the Lokayukta of Karnataka which was not accepted by the government of that State. The defence also submitted to the court in the evening that the custody of accused as sought by the CBI was not required as they never evaded investigation.
In the arguments that preceded the judge's decision to defer the case to Thursday, Uday Lalit, a senior counsel for the accused, said the justification for police remand of the accused must come from the court after 24 hours of their arrest. There could be no justification unless the prosecution produced case material. In this case, the CBI had not produced any material. The prosecution promised to furnish the material in a sealed cover to the court.
