Andhra Pradesh HC to decide on Karumuri family’s bail pleas on Mar 18

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday said a decision on the anticipatory bail petitions filed by the family members of former minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao will be given on Mar 18. Along with Rao, his son Sunil, and daughter-in-law Valluri Keerthi moved the HC seeking anticipatory bail in the alleged liquor transport scam case registered by the special investigation team (SIT).Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy said liquor shops were managed by the govt during the previous regime. "One Sigma Supply Chain Solutions Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based company, bagged the transportation contract, which, in turn, gave sub-contracts to multiple local companies. The petitioners supplied vehicles to one such sub-contract company called Sudarshan Constructions," he told the court, adding that the SIT did not make either the main contracting agency or the sub-contractors accused, but made the petitioners accused for political reasons.Arguing on behalf of the SIT, senior counsel Siddharth Agarwal said the tender conditions were prepared to suit Sigma, which was used as a front only to obtain sub-contracts. "Though the tenure of the contract was only for one year, it was extended by two more years. A vigilance enquiry into the issue indicated that the state exchequer incurred a loss of Rs 200 crore," he argued.Siddharth further said the petitioners played a key role in getting a sub-contract in favour of Sudarshan Constructions. The agreement was made at Sunil's office and 85% of the profit was transferred to the accounts of the petitioners, he stated, adding that the SIT identified that Rs 9.4 crore was deposited in Keerthi's account, and there was ample evidence suggesting transfer of money to the petitioners' accounts.As the case is still at a nascent stage and custodial interrogation of the petitioners is necessary, he pleaded with the high court to dismiss the bail petitions. As the arguments concluded on both sides, Justice Venkata Jyothirmayee Pratapa said judgement will be given on Mar 18.