Justice S. Govindarajulu of the AP High Court on Thursday asked the CBI to explain at what stage its investigation into the role of Ras-Al Khaimah in the Vanpic deal was. The judge was hearing the bail petition of Nimmagadda Prasad, a promoters of Vanpic and an accused in the Jagan Mohan Reddy illegal investments case. The CBI opposed the bail plea on the ground that investigation was still going on in the case.
Referring to the Vanpic project’s MoU, the judge pointed out that it was not the only party in the MoU. Since the government of Ras-Al Khaimah was also party to it, the judge asked CBI counsel to explain how far the investigation against it had proceeded because the CBI’s efforts to be one-sided. Counsel said that the CBI had issued a notice to the RAK government. Rajasekhar Rao, counsel from Delhi, appearing for Prasad, told the court that his client was a well-established entrepreneur. Refuting the charges of a quid pro quo arrangement, he contended that his client was a genuine investor and more than 50 per cent of investments in Vanpic were made after YSR’s death. He urged the court to grant his client bail since he had been in judicial custody for 125 days. The arguments will resume on Friday.
Orders reserved on Pattabhi bail
Justice S. Govindarajulu reserved orders on the bail plea of T. Pattabhi Rama Rao, former judge of the special CBI court, who is accused in the cash-for-bail scam of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy. The judge will pronounce his decision on Sept 25. During the arguments Mr R. Ramachan-dra Reddy, ACB counsel, contended that there was ample evidence against Rama Rao.