Court Stays Rajagopal's Bail

A few hours after granting bail to former director of mines department V D Rajagopal in the illegal mining case of the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC), the Special CBI Court on Thursday stayed his release on bail till 19 December.

Earlier, while granting bail, the court had asked Rajagopal to furnish 2 sureties of Rs. 50,000 each and surrender his passport. Rajagopal was also asked not to leave the city without the CBI's permission.

However, the CBI counsel immediately filed a petition, stating that Rajagopal's release at this juncture might affect the investigation. The CBI contended that Rajagopal might influence the witnesses and tamper with the evidence.

Following this plea, the court stayed Rajagopal's release on bail till 19 Dec.

The court also reserved the verdict on the bail petition of former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.

The decision on Gali's brother-in-law and OMC managing director B V Srinivas Reddy is also pending with the court.

Earlier, the court had extended the judicial remand of Janardhan Reddy, Srinivas Reddy and Rajagopal to 29 December after hearing the case through video-linkage from the Chanchalguda Central Prison.

However, a few hour later, the court granted bail to Rajagopal, staying it soon after.

While Gali Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy were arrested on 5 September, Rajagopal was arrested on 14 November by the Central Bureau Of Investigation, in the OMC illegal mining case registered on 7 Dec 2009.

Suspended IAS officer Y Srilakshmi and OMC Director B Rajasekhar were also arrested in the case.

While Srilakshmi was granted bail, all the other accused were lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Prison. (INN)