Andhra HC quashes default bail of three liquor scam accused; asks them to surrender by Nov 26
After reserving the verdict on September 26, the High Court pronounced its decision on Wednesday
By - Newsmeter Network
Andhra HC quashes default bail of liquor scam accused - former CMO Secretary Dhanunjaya, OSD Krishnamohan, Bharathi Cements Director Balaji
Amaravati : Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed the default bail of three liquor scam accused, including former CMO Secretary K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, OSD Krishnamohan Reddy, and Bharathi Cements Director Balaji Govindappa.
All accused were granted default bail by the Vijayawada ACB Court on September 6.
Hearing the case, Justice Venkata Jyotirmayi directed the trio to surrender before the ACB Court by November 26. Initially, the court had set an October deadline, but later extended it after senior counsel representing the accused sought more time.
The High Court partly allowed the petitions filed by the CID, which challenged the ACB Court’s decision to grant default bail. While cancelling the bail, the court clarified that the accused were free to file regular bail petitions before the ACB Court, which must examine the matter and deliver its decision after proper inquiry.
Senior advocates Sidhartha Luthra, Posani Venkateswarlu, and PP Lakshminarayana, appearing for the CID, argued that default bail was improperly granted as the ACB Court had already received the charge sheets filed in the liquor scam. They contended that the court relied on the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Ritu Chhabria case — a verdict currently stayed by the apex court in a recall petition. They maintained that, given the alleged public losses in the liquor scam, the ACB Court should have prioritised the interests of victims over the accused’s personal liberty.
On the other hand, the defence lawyers argued that the CID itself repeatedly stated before the ACB Court that further investigation was required. This, they said, clearly indicated that the probe was incomplete within the mandated period, making their clients eligible for default bail.
After reserving the verdict on September 26, the High Court pronounced its decision on Wednesday, setting aside the default bail and ordering the accused to appear before the ACB Court within the extended deadline
