CBI Seeks Permission To Arrest Tainted judge

The Central Bureau Of Investigation, on Friday, moved a petition in the High Court, seeking permission to arrest First Additional CBI Judge T Pattabhirama Rao, who had granted bail to former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in an illegal mining case, by allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 10 crore.

The agency noticed that Rs. 10 crore had changed hands, and that at least 4 persons were involved in the alleged hawala operations.

The agency also booked the judge's son and others involved in this connection.

According to CBI sources, a retired judge and a man with criminal background acted as mediators in the hawala deal, and the cash was allegedly brought from Bellary to Hyderabad in 2 installments.

The agency identified 5 bank lockers belonging to Ramarao and others, in which the money was deposited, and seized Rs. 1.60 crore from a bank locker in Ashok Nagar, in Hyderabad.

According to the deal between the judge and the relatives of Gali Janardhan Reddy, it was agreed that Rs. 3 crore would be paid before the bail order, and Rs. 7 crore thereafter.

Earlier, while suspending T Pattabhirama Rao, the High Court asked him not to leave Hyderabad without informing it. The chief justice also ordered a probe by the legal department and the anti-corruption cell.

Meanwhile, a group of lawyers from the Telangana region, on Friday, staged a protest outside the High Court, demanding the arrest of the suspended judge. (INN)