HC raps state on Satyam

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Feb. 25: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday pulled up the state government for the delay in providing financial and logistical support to the CBI team which is probing the Rs 8,000-crore Satyam Computers scandal.
Justice N.V. Ramana was dealing with a petition filed by Mr K.G. Achuthan, representing the Stock Investors’ Hub of Thrissur, seeking a direction to hand over the Satyam investigation to the CBI.
Justice Ramana wanted the CBI counsel, Mr T. Niranjan Reddy, to apprise the court on the progress of the investigation. Mr Reddy, in his reply, complained to the court that the CBI team could not make any progress in the investigation as the government failed to provide accommodation and logistical support.
A visibly annoyed Justice Ramana directed counsel for the home department, Mr K. Ramesh, to get instructions with respect to the compliance of the undertaking given by the home department to the court in the earlier hearing and also the orders passed thereof and posted the matter to be taken up during the post-lunch session.
When the matter was taken up, counsel for the home department produced the letter sent by the principal secretary, home department.According to the letter, the CBI had submitted a proposal asking for a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh. This apart, the CBI had also identified Dilkhusha Guest House, of the two buildings suggested by the home department, to carry out their investigation.
When Mr Ramesh told the court that the guest house would be handed over by Saturday, Justice Ramana refused to give time and, at one stage, foresaw serious federal issues cropping up in the case and even wanted to issue a notice to the Attorney-General of India to assist the court.
However, after repeated pleas, the Judge relented.Reminding counsel for the home department that the CBI had not come on its own to take up the case, and that it was the state government which gave the consent, Justice Ramana remarked, “Is it proper on our part that if we invite a guest and leave him to fend for himself without providing facilities for his stay?”
The matter was posted to March 2 for further orders after the counsel for the home department gave an undertaking that all facilities will be provided to the CBI by Saturday.