Friday, February 20, 2009

CBI asks HC to get State help

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Feb. 19: The CBI on Thurs-day insisted that the AP High Court direct the state government to provide it with logistical support for its investigation into the Satyam scam.The CBI counsel, Mr T. Niranjan Reddy, told the court that the agency had a difficult time in getting minimum logistic support during its investigations into the Outer Ring Road case.If the go-vernment provides support, the CBI could start its probe into the Satyam scam from Friday, Mr Niranajan Reddy told the court.
He said the CBI requires a platoon of armed police personnel, accommodation, computers, laptops, vehicles and other logistical support.The court was hearing a petition filed by Mr K.G. Achuthan, representing Stock Investors’ Hub, Trissur, seeking a direction to hand over the Satyam investigation to the CBI.
Mr K. Ramesh, counsel for the home department, said the government would extend all possible support to the investigators, and there was no need for any direction in this regard.When the CBI counsel insisted on such a direction, Mr Ramesh said he would return on Friday after getting instructions from the government.
Mr N. Ramachandra Rao, counsel for the petitioner, urged the court to direct the CBI to keep it informed of the progress in its investigation.He cited a judgment of the Supreme Court in Bihar versus the Ranchi Zilla Samata Party, in which the apex court had directed the CBI to inform the Patna High Court of the progress in the probe, apart from the criminal court concerned.
The CBI counsel said the apex court had passed the direction when the Bihar state government had objected to a CBI inquiry in that case. In the Satyam case, the state government had given consent.
Mr A. Rajasekhar Reddy, assistant solicitor-general, informed the court that the Centre had notified on February 16 that the CBI would take up investigation by CBI. He submitted a copy of the notification to the court.

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