SC declines to grant regular bail to Avinash Reddy in AP liquor scam case

Vijayawada: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to grant regular bail to Muppidi Avinash Reddy in the alleged AP liquor scam case. The apex court observed that even after filing of the charge sheet, the investigating agency can ask for the custody of an accused, and the court can grant the same.Avinash Reddy, a key accused in the alleged scam, was evading arrest after the main accused, Raj Kasireddy, was arrested. He filed anticipatory bail petitions from the trial court to the Supreme Court, but his petitions were rejected, given the gravity of the case. The SC earlier directed him to surrender before the investigating officer. As the petition came for hearing again on Thursday, Avinash Reddy's counsel pleaded for regular bail, as he had already surrendered. As the charge sheet is already filed, he pleaded for regular bail by imposing conditions.Opposed the granting of regular bail, senior counsel Siddharth Luthra stated that the investigating agency has filed a custody petition before the trial court, which is still pending consideration. Considering the arguments, the SC bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul Pancholi rejected the plea for grant of regular bail and posted the matter for further hearing after the trial court pronounces its decision on the custody petition.