Hyderabad: In a major development, and one that could have a bearing on the investigation of Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case, the Telangana High Court on Thursday cancelled the default bail granted to prime accused Yerra Gangi Reddy.
The High Court single judge bench of Justice Chillakuru Sumalatha also directed Gangi Reddy to surrender before the CBI court in Hyderabad by May 5. The CBI court has been directed to take him into judicial custody.
The judge made clear that if Gangi Reddy refuses to oblige the CBI was at liberty to take him into custody and produce him before the court.
The court said that Gangi Reddy shall be released from jail on July 1 because the Supreme Court has set a June 30 deadline for the CBI to complete its probe. It ordered that Gangi Reddy be granted the bail on that day on a surety of ₹ 1.5 lakh.
Earlier, the Kadapa court had granted bail to Gangi Reddy as the SIT had failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated time period of 90 days.
After the investigation was transferred to the CBI, it filed a petition before the Kadapa court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Gangi Reddy. The sessions court and later the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the CBI petition on the grounds that a statutory bail cannot be cancelled.
C. Saran, counsel for Gangi Reddy, submitted that his client had appeared around 72 times before the investigating agencies. The CBI countered stating that his answers were evasive and vague.
Justice Sumalatha observed that the accused was initially released on default bail without going into the merits of the case. Taking into consideration the argument that default bail cannot be cancelled and that he has no role in tampering with evidence or influencing the investigation, the judge noted that, though CBI was alleging Gangi Reddy’s role in influencing witnesses like watchman Ranganna, de facto complainant Krishna Reddy and Gangadahar Reddy, no specific material has been placed.
