HYDERABAD: In a significant development in the Agri Gold case on Tuesday, the Subhash Chandra Foundation of Essel-Zee group, which filed an affidavit seeking court permission for its decision to go back on its earlier proposal to take over the scam-hit Agri Gold company, changed its stance within 24 hours by withdrawing its affidavit. In April this year, the Essel-Zee group told the High Court that it was not inclined to take over the company on the ground that it was economically unviable as there was a lot of difference between the assets and debts of the company, and that it decided to stop the due diligence exercise for taking over the company. As part of it, it filed an affidavit on June 4 seeking permission to withdraw from the ongoing process and for return of its Rs 10-crore deposit amount.
When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench comprising justices V Ramasubramanian and SV Bhatt on Tuesday, senior counsel Sri Raghuram, representing the group, sought permission for withdrawal of the said affidavit. The bench agreed to the plea. That means the Essel-Zee group is again in the race to take over the company. The bench was dealing with batch petitions filed by the Telangana Agri Gold customers and agents welfare association and others seeking CBI probe into Agri Gold scam and return of the depositors’ money. While the case was in progress the Foundation came forward to take over the whole business of Agri Gold by paying the money to facilitate refund of money to depositors.
Meanwhile, the AP government proposed before the court for constitution of a committee with district judge as its chairman and the collector and district registrar as its members for auctioning Agri Gold properties. Advocate- general Dammalapati Srinivas said that if necessary the government was ready to provide some amount. If the court permitted it, the government would have talks with banks on the properties mortgaged with them and to have one-time settlement, he added. The AP CID submitted a report on 10 high-value properties which were not mortgaged and could be easily disposed of.
Purushotham Reddy granted bail in another case
In a relief to suspended HMDA director (planning) Katta Purushotham Reddy, who is facing charges in the disproportionate assets case, justice B Siva Sankara Rao of the High Court on Tuesday granted him bail in another case. On April 16, the police registered the case against him based on a complaint lodged by a person alleging that Reddy had pressurised him into selling his flat at a lower price. Following his arrest on April 18, Reddy moved the High Court for grant of bail.
HC refuses to entertain plea against Iftar party by TS govt
A HC division bench on Tuesday refused to hear the plea on urgency filed against “Dawat-e-Iftar” to be hosted by the Telangana government. When the counsel for the petitioner Dr Lubna Sarwath made a mention seeking a stay on the event, the bench asked how it could take up the case out of turn when several cases were listed for the day.
File counter in Suryapet office case: HC to minister
A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed State energy minister G Jagadishwar Reddy and Sri Sai developers to file counter affidavits in a PIL filed challenging the decision of the government to construct an integrated district collectorate complex on a private land in Suryapet. A PIL was filed by Chakilam Rajeshwar Rao challenging the action of the authorities in taking steps to construct a district collectorate office on a private land .
HC seeks records on appointment of 550 artists
A division bench of the High Court on Tuesday directed the Telangana government to produce records pertaining to appointment of 550 persons as artists on nomination basis in government service. The bench of acting chief justice Ramesh Ranganathan and justice J Uma Devi passed the order. After perusing it, the bench directed the government departments concerned to submit relevant records.
Overcrowding of jails: HC seeks reports from AP, TS
Hyderabad: A division bench of the High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments, asking them to file comprehensive reports within three weeks in a PIL case relating to overcrowding of prisons in both the states and lack of adequate staff. The bench, comprising acting chief justice Ramesh Ranganathan and justice J Uma Devi, was dealing with the suo motu PIL following recent directions by the Supreme Court in a case relating to “Inhuman conditions in 1,382 prisons”. The apex court, in its order, expressed dissatisfaction at the efforts and endeavour put in by the state governments in bringing down overcrowding of prisoners in the prisons.