BENGALURU: In a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with regard to conversion of demonetised currency, the Karnataka High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to five accused, including the former personal assistants of Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar and Member of Parliament D K Suresh.
Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar granted anticipatory bail on the grounds that the accused have been cooperating with the investigation by appearing before the CBI seven times. The accused are B Padmanabhaiah, former personal assistant to D K Suresh and S Sheshagiri, a retired government servant, who was the personal assistant to D K Shivakumar. The other accused whose anticipatory bail pleas were allowed included Shivananda, Thimmaiah and Padmarekha.
The accused moved the High Court for advance bail as the CBI Special Court rejected their bail pleas on June 29, 2018. According to the CBI, an FIR was registered against B Prakash,Chief Manager, Corporation Bank, Ramanagar, on April 7, 2017. The Corporation Bank officials left the Currency Chest Branch, M.G.Road, Bengaluru on November 14, 2016 along with cash of Rs 12.25 crore and reached Ramanagara Branch.
At the end of operations on that day, the Branch had specified bank notes worth of Rs 10.03 lakh in excess which was not accounted for and discrepancies were found in the relevant register maintained by the bank officials.