Roads & Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao can heave a sigh of relief. The High Court, on Monday, struck down the CBI's petition on the prosecution of the minister.
The lower court had earlier ruled that permission need not be taken to prosecute the minister.
Dharmana Prasada Rao challenged the verdict of the lower court in the High Court, and got a favourable ruling.
Dharmana Prasada Rao was named in the VANPIC scam. He resigned immediately, on being named in the charge sheet. However, the government did not accept his resignation. Instead, the Cabinet decided that he cannot be prosecuted as he holds a public office. The Cabinet's decision was sent to the Governor, who, in turn, had reverted, saying that legal opinion should be taken in the matter.
Dharmana also started attending official duty, and the CBI had then contended that the offence (Vanpic scandal) was committed while he was Revenue minister, and that as the House was dissolved, he has lost the status of a public servant. That was re-elected and got a different portfolio is a different matter, the CBI argued.
Dharmana's counsel contended that "he is a public servant even if his portfolio has changed".
The court decision comes as a relief to Dharmana Prasada Rao. (INN)