HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation moved the Special CBI court here on Tuesday seeking cancellation of the bail granted to YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets case.
The court had granted conditional bail on September 23, 2013 to Jagan, who was accused number one (A1) in the said case, that he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any other authority and so on.
The court granted liberty to the CBI to make an application for cancellation of bail if the A1 violates any of the conditions imposed by the court.
While urging the court to cancel the bail of Jagan, the CBI submitted that when the case is at the stage of framing of charges before the special court, the publication/airing of the interview of a prime prosecution witness P Ramakanth Reddy, retired IAS officer and former chief secretary during YS Rajasekhara Reddy government, in Sakshi TV channel and Sakshi newspaper owned by Jagan, appears to be a strategic move by the accused tantamount to violating the bail condition, to scuttle the prosecution case. The retired officer was examined as a witness in Vanpic and Indu Tech Zone issues and the charge sheets were filed before the trial court along with the statements of the said officer, it added.
It further said that A1 had consciously flouted the bail conditions laid down while enlarging him on bail.
Telecasting the interview of the former chief secretary in the media controlled by A1 was with the sole motto to dissuade or otherwise influence the other witnesses from testifying against him during the trial.
The contents of the said interview of the prosecution witness Ramakanth Reddy can be used during the trial to scuttle the prosecution case against Jagan, it pointed out.
When the matter came up for hearing, the special court directed Jagan to file a counter affidavit and posted the matter to April 7 for further hearing.