The Andhra Pradesh High Court, on Friday, stayed the
bail granted by the CBI Court to former Mines Department Director V D Rajagopal in the case of illegal mining by the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC).
The stay was granted following a petition moved by the Central Bureau Of Investigation opposing Rajagopal's bail.
The CBI's counsel contended that Rajagopal's release at this juncture might affect the investigation, and that he might influence the witnesses and tamper with the evidence.
While granting the stay, the court posted the matter for further hearing to 20 December.
It may be mentioned here that the CBI court had granted bail to Rajagopal on Thursday. However, a few hours later, following a petition moved by the CBI, the court stayed Rajagopal's release on bail till 19 Dec.
Meanwhile, the CBI, on Friday, opposed the bail petitions of Gali Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy in the Special CBI Court.
The court has adjourned the hearing on both the bail petitions to 22 December.
Earlier, the court had extended the judicial remand of former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, OMC managing director B V Srinivas Reddy and Rajagopal, to December 29, after hearing the case through video-linkage from the Chanchalguda Central Prison. However, a few hours later, the court granted bail to Rajagopal, later, staying it.
While Gali Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy were arrested on 5 September, Rajagopal was arrested on 14 November by the CBI, 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 other accused are lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Prison. (INN)