Advocates alleged political bias against the accused persons by the AP government in taking up investigation after change of the government
Vijayawada: Supreme Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to the accused P. Krishna Mohan Reddy and K. Dhananjaya Reddy in the multi-crore AP liquor scam, stating the investigation is at a crucial stage and any grant of anticipatory bail may prejudice the case.
A bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan held a hearing in New Delhi on Friday on the Special Leave Petition. The court observed:
“We are of the view that we should not exercise our discretion for grant of anticipatory bail. The AP High Court has looked into the matter and declined to grant anticipatory bail as prayed for. We should not overlook the fact that through grant of anticipatory bail, we may come in the way of the investigating agency if at all it wants custodial interrogation. It is needless to say that for the purpose of custodial interrogation, the investigating agency has to make out a prima facie case when remand is prayed for. Whether any case is made out or not, it is for the court concerned to look into it.”
“Today, what should be looked into is a prima facie case. And, we believe that there is some case today. We would like to make ourselves very clear that the state shall not adopt any third degree methods or coerce or exert any pressure or bring any undue influence on any of the witnesses or the co-accused. We further make it clear that tomorrow, if they are arrested, remanded and thereafter sent to judicial custody, any regular bail applications shall be considered on its own merits. If the petitioners have any further apprehension that they are likely to be ill-treated, they can approach the High Court and obtain the very same relief the HC has granted to co-accused.”
Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Krishna Mohan Reddy, Vikas Singh for Dhananjaya Reddy and Siddartha Dave appeared for Balaji Govindappa. They alleged political bias against the accused persons by the AP government in taking up investigation after change of the government. They said that the accused persons are cooperating with the investigation.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Siddarth Luthra and Siddarth Agarwal appeared for AP government and vehemently opposed any grant of anticipatory bail to the accused, claiming that it would prejudice the investigation which is at a crucial stage.
