The CBI on Thursday objected to the 10-day interim bail sought by former minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao to visit Sabarimala. Rao had earlier applied for an interim bail from December 24 to January 2 to visit Sabarimala as he had undertaken the ‘Ayyappa Deeksha’.
Objecting to the petition, the investigation agency told special court for CBI cases that the former minister was capable of influencing witnesses if he was released. However, the CBI said it won’t object to granting him bail for five days to complete his pilgrimage.
Rao’s counsel, however, argued that the investigating agency could not object to religious matters. Rao had undertaken the Deeksha and had to go to Sabarimala to complete his vow. Rao has been taking Deeksha since 1995, the counsel argued.
He pointed out that on an earlier occasion, the court had permitted an accused in Emaar case to go on a pilgrimage as he was on a similar Deeksha. Special court’s judge U Durgaprasada Rao posted the petition to Tuesday for orders.
Gali Produced Before ACB Court
Karnataka former minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy was produced before the ACB court in connection with the cash-for-bail scam on Thursday.
The ACB had registered two cases in the scam and Reddy was produced before the court in the case where the mining baron, along with his associates, made an unsuccessful bid to buy bail.
The court extended Reddy’s remand till Dec 24.
Reddy’s close aide and Bellary (rural) MLA B Sreeramulu came to the court and met him for sometime.