CBI pleads for more time to complete trial in Satyam case

A Bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued notices to company’s then founder B Ramalinga Raju and nine others on the CBI’s application. The CBI sought extension of July 31 deadline set by the apex court to finish the trial in the case. The apex court had in October last fixed the time to complete the trial in the case while cancelling the bail of Raju and others. The probe agency contended that the trial in the matter before a Hyderabad court could not be completed due to the Telangana agitation in Andhra Pradesh.

Giving out reasons for failing to finish trial in the stipulated time, Additional Solicitor General Haren Rawal, appearing for the agency, submitted that as many as 18 days were lost due to lawyers’ strike while there were 10 days of court vacation. He pointed out that 211 witnesses have deposed in the court and only 15 investigating officers were left to be examined by the defence counsel.

Raju and six other accused, lodged at Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad, had earlier moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court for bail as the July 31 deadline for the trial to be completed could not be met. The High Court, however, had refused to grant them bail, prompting four of them to approach the apex court, which, while agreeing to hear their pleas, had issued notice to the CBI on September 16.