Cash-for-bail: CBI summons Somashekara Reddy

With the Anti-Corruption Bureau summoning Somashekara Reddy, brother of incarcerated mining baron Janardhan Reddy in connection with the cash-for-bail scam, it seems like time may have run out for him.

Reddy, who is believed to have delivered the cash in order to obtain bail for Janardhan Reddy, has been summoned along with another Member of Parliament Suresh Babu, who is also alleged to be involved in this scam. The duo will have to appear before the court in Hyderabad in the next three days, sources informed rediff.com.

Janardhan Reddy, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the mining scam, had sought bail before the special CBI court in Hyderabad. He was granted bail, but the CBI suspected something fishy, and tracked down the manner in which Pattabhi Rama, the judge, had allegedly been bribed.

During the CBI investigation, Rama informed that he had been approached by various persons in connection with this case, and he was told to accept a bribe and grant Reddy bail.

The CBI then questioned the point man, Yadgiri Rao. He is the one who struck the deal at Somashekhara's behest, he told the CBI. He said that the entire deal was struck for Rs 20 crore, but at the end of it, Reddy only delivered Rs 9.5 crore in cash, of which Rs 3 crore was given to the judge.

He also pointed out that Somashekhara had told him that the remaining amount would be given only once the high court rejects CBI's appeal challenging the bail order of the special CBI court.

The CBI also questioned Dasarath Rami Reddy, a relative of the Reddy brothers. He told the CBI that Janardhan was ready to spend up to even Rs 100 crore in order to get bail.

CBI sources say that they have clinching evidence against Reddy and Babu. They say that the arrest is imminent, but they need to follow few procedures before they can move forward.

Somashekara has now been summoned by the ACB. He is expected to surrender before the CBI at Hyderabad, sources point out. Even Suresh Babu is expected to take the same path. The CBI says that they would need to take the matter before the court and only then proceed against the two.