CBI against Raju operating laptop in jail

The CBI, which is probing the alleged multi-crore financial fraud in Satyam Computers, on Wednesday strongly objected to the petition of former MD Rama Raju seeking permission to use laptops inside the jail. Raju and its former CFO Vadlamani Srinivas on November 12 had filed a petition in the XIV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court seeking its permission to use laptops to enable their defence in various cases.

Opposing the petition, CBI's deputy legal advisor B Ravindranath contended that the purpose of judicial custody of the accused will not serve any purpose if they were permitted to operate laptops in the jail as the investigations were at a crucial stage.

The CBI investigations reveal that crores of rupees were diverted by the accused to third parties in foreign countries from Satyam Computers, he alleged and added that investigation in this regard was still on.

The CBI counsel argued that if Raju and Srinivas were permitted to operate laptops they could get access through wireless internet to anybody and destroy the evidence of prosecution.

Ravindranath said the agency has posted a letter to six countries -- United States, UK, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Mauritius and Singapore -- seeking information with regard to alleged diversion of funds, which was still awaited.

The CBI counsel argued, "At this stage using of electronic equipment (laptops) would hamper the investigations abroad," and pointed out that there was no provision under Prisons Rules to provide any electronic equipment to the accused.

Arguing in support of the petition, Bharat Kumar and Ravindra Reddy said their clients have sought permission from the court to direct the jail authorities to use laptops to defend themselves in various cases slapped by different agencies, including SEBI, SFIO, Enforcement Directorate and Company Law Board.

They (Satyam accused) also want to use the laptops to go through the contents of the CDs related to the case that are in voluminous records, Reddy said.

The CBI counsel, however, argued "Let the accused be provided typewriters to prepare notes."

He said the prosecution was ready to provide hard copies of contents of CDs (which contains information given by Registrar of Companies) if the court gave directions in this regard.

To this, the defence counsel questioned as to why the prosecution was opposing laptop use when it wanted a speedy trial and alleged the jail premises lacked basic infrastructure which could hinder them from using typewriters.

After hearing the arguments, Magistrate K Sudhakar reserved his orders for November 26.

Raju and Srinivas, who are in judicial remand, are lodged in the Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad since early January, after Satyam's founder B Ramalinga Raju admitted to fudging of accounts in the IT firm.