Sanction Dharmana's Prosecution: BJP To Governor

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday asked Governor E S L Narasimhan to use his discretionary powers to sanction the prosecution of Roads And Buildings Minister B Dharamana Prasada Rao.

In his letter to the Governor, former minister Bandaru Dattatreya praised the Governor for not approving the Cabinet decision not to prosecute Dharmana Prasada Rao even though he has been charge-sheeted by the CBI. However, he expressed disappointment that he did not use his discretion to sanction the prosecution.

Dattatreyya also annexed a note prepared by eminent Professor Madabhushi Sridhar of Nalsar University of Law who concluded that the Governor was the final judge and could use absolute discretion of Article 163 (1) to sanction prosecution.

"I am still hopeful that like the erstwhile Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr. Marri Channa Reddy, you may still exercise your discretion to sanction and direct the prosecution of Dharmana Prasad Rao and enable the CBI to pursue the matter in court, and also give an opportunity to Dharmana Prasada Rao prove the prima facie case of the CBI incorrect, and have the same dismissed," the BJP leader said.

Dattatreyya also said that in case the prosecution was not sanctioned, he said the Governor could examine whether the CBI case against the other accused including YSR Congress party president Jagan Mohan Reddy and others would hold any validity in the same case. (INN)