Chennai: Modifying the bail condition, the Madras high court on Wednesday directed sand mining baron Shekar Reddy to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in Chennai on July 24 and 31 and thereafter every alternative Monday until further orders.
Justice S. Baskar passed the order on a petition filed by Shekar Reddy to relax the bail conditions enabling him to sign before the Enforcement Directorate in Chennai.
Shekar Reddy was arrested by the ED on March 20 in connection with a money laundering case.
Originally on December 20, 2016, the ED registered a case against him under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This was based on an FIR registered by the CBI following a seizure of cash.
On a petition filed by him, the judge had on May 12 granted bail to him on the condition that he should stay in New Delhi and report before the officer-in-charge of PMLA case, of the ED there until further orders.
Shekar Reddy filed the present petition, to relax the bail condition. When the petition came up for hearing on July 11, the counsel for Shekar Reddy citing newspaper report submitted that his client was facing life threats and hence the case may be adjourned.
The counsel for ED submitted that the investigation in the case has to be continued in Chennai and hence no purpose would be served if the petitioner was allowed to sign in Delhi office.
