SPP Argues Against Bail for Riyaz, Says he May Influence Probe

BENGALURU: The special public prosecutor representing the SIT probing the Lokayukta scam made a strong case in the High Court against the bail applications of the accused Syed Riyaz, M B Srinivase Gowda and Ashok Kumar. Justice Narayanaswamy adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.

In support of his arguments, SPP C H Jadhav submitted several documents and voice recordings seized by the probe team. He said the material collected indicates that Riyaz and the other accused had converted the office of the Lokayukta, which was established for fighting corruption, into a den of corruptionn.

Riyaz had approached HC for bail after his plea was rejected by the Lokayukta Special Court.  The SPP submitted a CD containing phone conversations involving Riyaz, Ashok Kumar and witness A P Pramod, Riyaz’s orderly. Pramod confirms that he allowed Ashok Kumar to use the Lokayukta meeting hall to carry out extortion on instructions from Riyaz. Antony Raj, chamber orderly of Riyaz, corroborates his statements.

Deputy Commissioner V Shankara states he had gone to the house of the Lokayukta, whose son Y Ashwin is one of the accused, on Riyaz’s order. This statement shows how Riyaz had interfered in the affairs of other departments, the SPP said.

Jadhav said, “He (Riyaz) is a highly influential person and as the case is still under investigation, we feel he may interfere with the probe if he is out on bail.”

Raise Bond

Stating that the amount of bond to be executed by the prisoner and by the sureties at the time of release of prisoners on parole is too meagre, the High Court on Monday directed the state government to enhance it substantially. “Apart from this,  a minimum of three sureties need to execute the bonds,” said the division bench, headed by Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar. The bench, directed ADGP and IGP of Prisons Kamal Pant to take all necessary steps as per law to arrest 31 prisoners, who did not return after being released on parole.

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