<p>The CBI today accused the Andhra Pradesh government of "intentionally" delaying the process to grant sanction to prosecute suspended IAS officer B P Acharya, prime accused in the APIIC-Emaar township case.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The state government was intentionally delaying the sanction for prosecution of Acharya," the agency's deputy legal advisor Balla Ravindranath told a special CBI court here.<br /><br />Ravindranath made the submission while opposing the bail application of Acharya, who was CMD of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corp (APIIC) in 2005-10.<br /><br />He further alleged that the top bureaucrat himself was "influencing" some senior officials in the Secretariat to create ground for getting bail.<br /><br />"We have already made a request for according sanction for prosecution of Acharya. The state government called for an explanation from the accused officer. After Acharya submitted a written reply, the government has now forwarded the reply to CBI and asked for explanation," Ravindranath submitted, adding this was "improper".<br /><br />"Issuing sanction for prosecution is not in our (CBI) hands," he said. The Centre gives the final nod for prosecution of an IAS officer after seeking opinion of the state concerned.<br /><br />Acharya, a former home secretary, enjoys rapport with some senior officials and he may be influencing them to delay the sanction for prosecution, the CBI counsel contended.<br />Acharya's counsel, however, sought to know how long the CBI wants to keep a public servant in judicial custody without getting sanction for prosecution.<br /><br />"The charge sheet (in Emaar case) has already been filed and there is no question of tampering with evidence or threatening witnesses. My client will be always available to CBI as part of its investigation and not flee the country if granted bail," he maintained.<br /></p>
<p>The CBI today accused the Andhra Pradesh government of "intentionally" delaying the process to grant sanction to prosecute suspended IAS officer B P Acharya, prime accused in the APIIC-Emaar township case.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The state government was intentionally delaying the sanction for prosecution of Acharya," the agency's deputy legal advisor Balla Ravindranath told a special CBI court here.<br /><br />Ravindranath made the submission while opposing the bail application of Acharya, who was CMD of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corp (APIIC) in 2005-10.<br /><br />He further alleged that the top bureaucrat himself was "influencing" some senior officials in the Secretariat to create ground for getting bail.<br /><br />"We have already made a request for according sanction for prosecution of Acharya. The state government called for an explanation from the accused officer. After Acharya submitted a written reply, the government has now forwarded the reply to CBI and asked for explanation," Ravindranath submitted, adding this was "improper".<br /><br />"Issuing sanction for prosecution is not in our (CBI) hands," he said. The Centre gives the final nod for prosecution of an IAS officer after seeking opinion of the state concerned.<br /><br />Acharya, a former home secretary, enjoys rapport with some senior officials and he may be influencing them to delay the sanction for prosecution, the CBI counsel contended.<br />Acharya's counsel, however, sought to know how long the CBI wants to keep a public servant in judicial custody without getting sanction for prosecution.<br /><br />"The charge sheet (in Emaar case) has already been filed and there is no question of tampering with evidence or threatening witnesses. My client will be always available to CBI as part of its investigation and not flee the country if granted bail," he maintained.<br /></p>