Date:09/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060911400400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Paritala case: CBI plea on accused turned down

Staff Reporter

Paritala Ravindra murder case

ANANTAPUR: The District and Sessions Court on Friday turned down the memo filed by the CBI probing the Paritala Ravindra murder case requesting the court to allow it to interrogate an accused in the case, K. Ramamohan Reddy, on his plea for turning an approver.

The efforts of the special public prosecutor for the CBI, M. Venkoba Rao, to impress on the court citing an observation made by the High Court that the agency should be given all opportunities to explore the possibilities to resolve the case were in vain. Intense arguments preceded the court's decision to dispose of the CBI plea.

The CBI counsel and a group of lawyers led by E. Ayyapa Reddy appearing for the other accused were engaged in arguments over the issue.

Court notice to CBI

The CBI counsel argued that the court had given notices only to the CBI and the accused persons in the matter and others had no business. He said that it was like recording statements of suspects by the police under Sections 161 and 164 in which the police need to take the permission of the other side.

However, the defence lawyers appearing for main accused, G. Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri, cited a Supreme Court judgement in support of their argument that the other accused in the case, Rammohan Reddy, should be given notice on the plea to turn an approver.