SC dismisses govt’s plea challenging P Narayana’s bail, Legal News, ET LegalWorld – Legal Firms

VIJAYAWADA: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petition filed by the state government challenging the anticipatory bail granted to former minister P Narayana and others in the alleged inner ring road (IRR) alignment scam.

“Do not make the courts a platform for political vengeance. We are dealing with such petitions on a daily basis, especially from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” said the apex court bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice B Nagaratna while dismissing the petition.

Arguing on behalf of the state government, senior counsel Harin Raval said the high court erred in its judgement while granting anticipatory bail to the accused in the case connected with alleged irregularities in the design of capital city master plan and the IRR. He said the high court did not consider the seriousness of the allegations and specific details of offences committed by each of the accused. He further submitted that the accused are not cooperating with the investigation agency.

The bench observed that if the accused are not cooperating with the investigation agency, they can approach the high court with an appropriate application instead of moving the Supreme Court. The high court’s orders would not have any adverse bearing on the ongoing investigation, the SC bench added. Raval pressed for issuing notices to the accused but the bench rejected his request, saying it is not a case for issuing notices and dismissed the petition.