The Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday cancelled the bail granted to suspended IAS officer BP Acharya, a prime accused in the Emaar township scam.
Justice KC Bhanu of the high court after hearing the arguments observed that “the Emaar scandal caused enormous loss to the state exchequer and the role of accused is visible to naked eye. At this juncture there is no justification to release the accused on bail on a mere technical ground,”.
The counsel for Acharya requested at least a week’s time for surrender, but the judge refused to grant him any time and directed the accused to surrender before CBI court forthwith.
The special court for CBI cases hearing the alleged irregularities in the APIIC-Emaar land deal case had on March 16 ordered release of Acharya as sanction for prosecution from the Centre against him (as also against another top bureaucrat who is also an accused in Emaar scam) was not obtained by CBI.
Excluding Acharya and executive officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) LV Subrahmanyam, the CBI court had earlier taken cognisance of the charge sheet filed by CBI against 10 others which included individuals and private companies, who have been charged under relevant sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act in the alleged irregularities in land transfer and sale of villas and apartments in the township project at Gachibowli here.
Challenging the decision of the special court, CBI had approached the high court and contended that there was no application for bail before the special court but still bail was granted to Acharya.
The central agency also contended that the IAS officer was charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act and there was no need for sanction to proceed against him for offences under IPC.
