Former Andhra Pradesh minister Bhuma Akhila Priya, the
prime accused in the Bowenpally kidnapping, was once again left disappointed when a Secunderabad court rejected her second consecutive bail plea.
(This second rejection followed the police's decision to file a memo in which they slapped more criminal charges, including dacoity, against her.)
Explaining its decision, the court said that the grounds for bail cited by Priya were not "strong enough" to warrant a release.
Saying that the charges against her, which carry a life sentence, were not under its purview, the local court's bench suggested that she file another petition in a higher court, a Sessions Court, instead.
"Bhuma Akhila Priya's petition has been moved to a higher court since local courts do not have the jurisdiction to hear cases of such gravity," an officer associated with the case's investigation said.
The former minister's counsel will now reportedly file a plea in the Nampally Sessions Court on her behalf.
In both petitions, the former TDP leader had cited her health as the grounds for bail. In response to her plea, the police had said that the ongoing investigation of the case would be jeopardised if Priya was released as she had the resources and the influence to "manipulate" not only evidence but also witnesses.