HYDERABAD: A day after the CBI arrested Koneru Prasad, the managing director of Stylish Homes Pvt Limited, for his alleged role in the Emaar scam, a local court on Friday granted the CBI seven-day custody of Prasad for questioning him about the alleged irregularities in the sale of villas in the Boulder Hills project and the role of various persons, including government officials, in the anomalies. The CBI officials produced Prasad, who is in ‘Bhavani Deeksha’, before the Special Court for Economic Offences in the afternoon.The magistrate, R Sudhakar Naidu, after hearing arguments from both sides, granted a seven-day police custody of the accused. Around 3.30 p.m, the CBI officials brought the accused to the Nampally Court (earlier, he was taken to a corporate hospital for medical check-up in the morning).Since the Special CBI Court Magistrate was on leave, Prasad was produced before the Special Court for Economic Offences. As soon as the CBI officials produced Prasad in the court, CBI deputy legal advisor B Ravindranath filed a petition seeking 15-day police custody for custodial interrogation of the accused to question him further on the Emaar scam. He said the accused was aware of the irregularities that had taken place as he was involved in the sale of villas at different prices. He also had knowledge of the role of public servants in the scam, he said. As the CBI officials failed to furnish the personal details of Prasad in the remand report, the magistrate himself asked the accused the details like his name, father’s name and residential address. With folded hands, Koneru Prasad answered all the questions. The magistrate then asked, “Are you comfortable with the officials? When did the police arrest you?” “They kept me in CCS cell, Sir. They arrested me yesterday evening (Thursday) around 4 pm,” Prasad replied.To another question whether he was being treated well, Prasad said, “yes.” When Prasad’s counsel CM Sudhakar Reddy sought a day’s time to file a counter petition, the magistrate told him to either make an oral argument or give it in writing and posted the arguments for 4.30 p.m. During arguments, Sudhakar Reddy said Prasad was only a director of the Emaar Township Private Limited and never had a role in administrative affairs of the company.“The CBI has already interrogated him several times in the last two months and there is nothing more to seek through custodial interrogation,” he argued.CBI’s counsel countered the argument saying the accused was involved in a scam worth `1,000 crore in the sale of villas and had deposited the amount in the bank accounts of his three sons. He sought custody of the accused to interrogate him to know more about the irregular activities.The magistrate then granted a week’s custody up to November 10. The magistrate directed the CBI officials to interrogate the accused in the presence of an advocate, B Ashokavardhan Reddy, during working hours.He also ordered that the CBI officials shall not subject Koneru Prasad to third-degree methods during interrogation. The CBI officials were also directed to take care of his medical condition and provide medical facilities under the supervision of CBI deputy superintendent SC Jhonie. The CBI officials were told to produce the accused after the custody ends at 4 p.m on November 10.
Comments
0 comment