HC verdict: No bail for Katta, son

BANGALORE: The high court on Tuesday rejected the bail petitions of former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, his son Katta Jagadish, a corporator, and S V Srinivas, managing director of Itasca company. The trio is facing trial in the KIADB scam before a special Lokayukta court. Justice V Jagannathan dismissed their petitions after nearly five-hour dictation process in which he not only recorded the submissions of both the sides, but also guidelines given by the apex court with regard to grant of bail."Two of the accused (Venkaiah and Jaggaiah) who are absconding are employees of Saubhagya Service station, which is owned by Katta Jagadish and his mother. The application of Itasca was not placed before the screening committee and there is an allegation that Katta Subramanya Naidu tinkered with the proposal approved by the then chief minister who was head of the High Level Committee," the judge said. "The two accused, who are at large, are out of the reach of the police and these are the two people who have issued the cheques. Chances of tampering with the evidence and threatening witnesses cannot be ruled out. Villagers who had not given their consent are also likely to be threatened. These are the apprehensions expressed by the prosecution. So having regard to the magnitude of the case, and going by the Supreme Court guidelines and seeing the gravity of the offence, and the character, behaviour of the accused, there is reasonable apprehension that the witnesses can be influenced. Further the allegation of the prosecution that Rs 110 crore received by the accused also does not permit bail," the judge has observed in his order.
PIECE OF ADVICE TO MEDIA
The judge also took notice of the media attention about the case. He narrated a short story 'Pardah' written by Munshi Premchand to drive home his point. In that story, a chowdhary (village head) goes to the home of one Pathan. He becomes curious on seeing a pardah in front of the door. In an effort to know what is there inside, he draws the pardah only to see the women of the household virtually naked due to abject poverty. The family thus faces humiliation. "Instead of the media focusing upon the varieties of food eaten by the prisoners, they can inform the readers and viewers the humane side of the prisoners. This would give hope to prisoners about a bright future," the judge said.