The High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to inform about the time it would take to complete the investigation in the Vanpic case.
Justice B Seshasayana Reddy while dealing with the bail petition of KV Brahmananda Reddy, accused in Jagan’s illegal assets case and suspended IRAS officer, has asked the CBI counsel to tell about the further probe conducted by the investigating agency after the dismissal of bail petition of the petitioner in November last.
“How much time will you (CBI) take to complete the probe? Has he (Brahmananda Reddy) received any monetary benefits in the Vanpic deal? What is the further investigation by the CBI after dismissal of the bail petition of the accused earlier?”, the judge asked the CBI counsel.
In reply, CBI counsel P Kesava Rao said that the CBI would complete the probe as expeditiously as possible.
When the judge insisted for specific time period, the CBI counsel said that he would inform the court later after getting instructions from the authorities concerned.
During the course of hearing, the CBI counsel opposed grant of bail to the accused on the grounds that there was every likelihood of interfering with further investigation and influencing the witnesses if the petitioner was enlarged on bail.
In fact, the accused as former special secretary of AP Investment and Infrastructure Corporation had played a key role in processing the files of controversial Vanpic project and was in the knowledge of all intricacies relating to it.
The accused had intentionally withheld many crucial aspects from the council of ministers while processing the memorandum and did not include the requirement of 28,000 acres of land in the cabinet memorandum placed before the council of ministers on June 30, 2008. He was instrumental in subverting the project.
His actions jeopardized the interests of the state, the CBI counsel alleged. The judge adjourned the hearing in the case to Friday.