CWG graft case: Court notice to CBI on A.K. Reddy’s bail plea

The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a bail plea of A.K. Reddy, who has been arrested for alleged irregularities in a Rs.141 crore contract for timing, scoring and result (TSR) equipment for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Issuing the notice, Justice Mukta Gupta sought the CBI’s response by April 30.

Reddy, official of Hyderabad-based company A.K.R. Construction, is the only accused in the case still lodged in the Tihar Jail. All others, including CWG Organising Committee’s former chief Suresh Kalmadi, have been freed on bail.

Seeking bail on the ground of parity, Reddy said that even the main accused, Kalmadi and Organising Committee Director General V.K. Verma, were also released on bail by the court.

He told the court that the alleged role attributed to him is insignificant in comparision to other accused persons, more so in context of the allegations against Kalmadi and Verma.

Reddy’s petition stated: “All the other co-accused persons against whom more serious and grave allegations are alleged by the CBI have been released on regular bail. On the ground of parity, there is no impediment in enlarging the petitioner on regular bail on just conditions.”

The charge sheet does not disclose that he had conspired or was in any way involved in the alleged conspiracy with any of the Organising Committee members or even the other accused, Reddy contended.

The petition also said that even prima facie, no case is made out against him.

“The charge sheet does not allege that any demand was made by any of the accused or even that the applicant had, in fact, in pursuance of the demand had handed over any such gratification,” said the petition.

Reddy’s counsel told the court his client must be allowed bail as he had never tried to influence the witnesses in the case.

“All the witnesses who have deposed against the petitioner were examined between the month of February 2011 to April 2011 in the original list of witnesses, therefore, there is no way the petitioner can influence the witnesses or their statement,” said the petition.

Reddy moved the high court after the special court hearing the case rejected his bail plea Feb 16.

The officials and two companies were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.