By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad,April 6 :The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed requesting the court to direct the income tax authorities to take necessary action against Ushodaya enterprises owned by the media baron, Mr Ch Ramoji Rao, for tax evasion. Mr. M. Krishna Reddy, a resident of the city, filed the petition stating that the Income Tax authorities, who served a notice on the company asking it to pay Rs 200 crore as tax, have not yet taken any action against the company.

The petitioner said that he had recently represented to the officials of the income tax department seeking action against the company. Reacting to the submissions of the petitioner, the Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru, said, “As per the records, just a few days ago you have represented to the authorities. Give them some time to act. If they do not act even after two months, we grant you liberty to approach the court”.

Ramoji asks for exemption

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,July 20 : Media baron, Mr Ch. Ramoji Rao on Monday approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a direction to quash the orders passed by a lower court for his personal appearance in the Margadarsi financiers case.
The first additional chief metropolitan magistrate of the city criminal court had on July 13 refused to dispense with the personal appearance of Mr Ramoji Rao in the case.
Mr Ramoji Rao, appeared before the court on June 25 in the case and filed a petition seeking dispensation from personal appearance on July 1. Aggrieved by the lower court’s order, Mr Rao filed the quash petitions seeking an interim plea to dispense with his personal appearance and permit him to be represented by special vakalat holder on his behalf.

Ramoji has to come personally

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, July 13 : The first additional chief metropolitan magistrate of city criminal court on Monday refused to dispense with the personal appearance of media baron, Mr Ch. Ramoji Rao in the Maragadarsi Financiers case.

While dismissing a petition filed by Mr Ramoji Rao seeking a direction to exempt him from personal appearance before the court during the trial of the case, the magistrate Mr Syed Lateef-ur-Rahaman, said the case involved multi-crore transactions and examination of bulky documents. It gets delayed in his (Mr Ramoji Rao) absence.

He observed that according to relevant provisions of the CrPC all the evidences have to be examined in the presence of the accused. While citing two directions of the Supreme Court, the magistrate opined that there was need to dispense with the personal appearance of the accused.

Court stays Ramoji trial

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Sept 9 : The AP High Court on Tuesday stayed the criminal proceedings against media baron Ch Ramoji Rao, including his appearance in a case related to financial irregularities in Margadarsi Financiers, pending before the first additional chief metropolitan court at Nampally in the city.
The court issued summons to Ramoji Rao on June 18, 2008, following a complaint filed by Mr T Krishna Raju, the inspector-general (CID) and the authorised officer in the case.
In his complaint, Mr Raju alleged that Mr Rao and his firm violated Section 45-S (1), (i) and 45-S (2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1953.
The government appointed Mr S Satyanarayana Prasad, senior counsel, as a special public prosecutor to deal with the case. Mr Ramoji Rao challenged the validity of the government order issued on February 19, 2007 appointing a Special Public Prosecutor for filing applications and complaints under Section 58 (E) of Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 to prosecute Margadarsi Financiers.
He also challenged the appointment of Ms Sindhu Kumari, advocate, to assist Special Public Prosecutor.
While passing interim orders on the petition Justice Ms G Rohini observed that "I am the opinion that the order is illegal and unsustainable and consequential this complaint presented by the Special Public Prosecutor is not valid. Hence the proceedings in the case cannot be allowed to go on ".
The court granted interim suspension of the appointment of the special public prosecutor as well as the stay of all further proceedings in the case until further orders.
The court issued notices to the all the respondents in the petition.

Ramoji filed a writ

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, September 5: Media baron and Eenadu group of companies Chairman Mr. Ch. Ramoji Rao on Thursday files a writ petition in the AP High Court seeking a direction to quash the appointment of senior advocate S. Satyanarayana Prasad as a special public prosecutor in the cases of Margadarsi Financiers.
The petitioner challenged the validity of the government order issued on February 19, 2007 appointing a Special Public Prosecutor for filing applications and complaints Under Section 58 (E) of Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 to prosecute Margadarsi Financiers.
The petitioner also challenged the appointment of Ms Sindhu Kumari, advocate, to assist Special Public Prosecutor.
Mr. Ramoji told the court that the political party in power in the state out of malafides initiated proceedings against the petitioners and their group of companies. He alleged that the malafides arose out of the exposures made by the print and electronic media operated by the group of petitioners about misuse of power by the party functionaries in the state.
He informed the court that he has already discharged major portion of the deposit liability by making premature payments to the depositors.
Mr. Ramoji contended that the appointment was without jurisdiction and contrary to statute and is liable to set aside.

Summons issued to Ramoji

By Shariff Ameeruddin Ishaqui
Hyderabad, June 18 : The first additional chief metropolitan court on Wednesday issued summons to the chairman of the Ramoji group of companies, Mr Ramoji Rao, in connection with the Margadarsi financers case.

This comes following a complaint filed by Mr T. Krishna Raju, the inspector-general (CID) and the authorised officer in the case. In his complaint, Mr Raju alleged that Mr Rao and his firm violated Section 45-S (1), (i) and 45-S (2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1953.
The Supreme Court in March had said, “We make it clear that the magistrate may proceed with it in accordance with the law as there is no stay of any prosecution or complaint. The last line in the impugned order is not to be interrupted. The outcome of any proceedings initiated by the authorised officer against the respondent will be subject to the result of the writ petition and the direction of this court.”

Mr Raju said to the court that the Margadarsi Financiers has no right to accept deposits from other persons who are not relatives.

Ramoji Rao pays Rs 50,000 costs

By Shariff Ameeruddin Ishaqui
Hyderabad , April 30 : Media baron and Chairman of Margadarsi group of companies Ch Ramoji Rao on Wednesday paid Rs 50, 000 to the AP High Court towards cost as ordered by the AP High Court.
A division bench of the high court comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice Somayajulu, imposed costs on Mr Ramoji for not withdrawing the allegations made against the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Margadarsi Financiers had filed five writs challenging the notices issued by the Income-Tax department. The bench expressed dismay over the allegations on a person (the Chief Minister), who was not made a party in the writ.
The petitioner (Ramoji Rao) had alleged that the Chief Minister had been instigating "illegal action" against him with political vengeance. The bench asked the petitioner to pay costs each Rs 10,000 for five writs. The counsel for the Margadarsi Financiers remitted the amount to the High Court.

Eenaadu Ramoji fined Rs 10K for foul statements

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, March 11: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on media baron Ch Ramoji Rao for not withdrawing the allegations made against the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in a writ petition. A division bench of the high court comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and Justice Somayajulu, while dealing with a batch of writ petitions filed by Margadarsi Financiers owned by Mr Ramoji Rao, challenging the notices of the Income-Tax department, expressed dismay over the allegations on a person (the Chief Minister), who was not made a party in the writ.
“How can you make allegation on a person without making him a respondent?” the bench asked the petitioner, Margadarsi Financiers. “Why have you not withdrawn the allegation even after you gave an assurance to the court during the last hearing,” the court further questioned the petitioner. The petitioner had alleged that the Chief Minister had been instigating “illegal action” against him with political vengeance.
He told the court that the I-T department was summoning employees of their firm. He also alleged that the joint commissioner of the I-T department was influenced by the corridors of power and, with directions from vested interests, was abusing his power to fabricate a false case against him.
Justice Prakash Rao asked the petitioner: “How can the court entertain such petitions containing personal allegations and derogatory remarks on a third party. You withdraw your allegation or petitions. The option is yours.” The petitioner withdrew the petitions following which the court permitted him to file a fresh petition. The petitioner Margadarsi Financiers told the court that the income-tax department had issued a notice to them on December 14, 2007, to furnish details of receipt of deposits, mode of receipts of deposits by cheque, demand draft and pay order.

Complaint against Ramoji dismissed

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, March 7:
The First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Ms Y.H. Prameela Reddy, on Friday rejected a complaint filed by the Crime Investigation Department against media baron Ch Ramoji Rao and Margadarsi Financiers which he owns.
The inspector-general (CID), Mr T. Krishna Raju, who is the authorised officer of Margadarsi Financiers case, filed the complaint against Mr Ramoji Rao and his firm for alleged violation of Section 45-s (1), (i) and 45-s (2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act 1953.
However, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate passed orders rejecting the complaints stating that a special leave petition was pending in Supreme Court with regard to the same matter. It was also observed that the complainant had failed to submit thestatements of 865 depositors recorded by the complainant during the course of inquiry of the case.It may be mentioned that the CID has searched the premises of Margadarsi Financiers on February 21, 2007 and seized relevant documents, deposit certificates and a hard disc. Krishna Raju submitted to the court that Margadarsi Financiers established as Hindu Undivided Family firm and the firm has no right to accept deposits from other persons who are not relatives.He told the court that the accused had violated Section 45(s) of the RBI Act and investigation revealed that the depositors of the Margadarsi Financiers were general public and they were not related to the accused.

Eenadu Ramoji has to suurender to police

The AP High Court granted conditional anticipatory bail to the Eenadu and Margadarsi group chairman, Mr Ch Ramoji Rao, and his son, Mr Ch Kiron, in a cheating case.
Justice Swaroop Reddy while admitting a petition filed by Mr Ramoji Rao seeking anticipatory bail directed him to surrender before the Three Town police of Visakhapatnam within ten days. The court asked the petitioner to furnish two sureties Rs 10,000 each for Mr Ramoji Rao and his son to obtain bail from the police.Mr Padmanbha Reddy, senior counsel for the petitioner, sought police protection for Mr Ramoji Rao and Mr Kiron at the time of their surrender. Justice Swaroop Reddy turned down the plea. The police had registered a case against Mr Ramoji Rao, Mr Kiron and Ushodaya Publications owned by the Ramoji Rao family following the direction by the chief metropolitan magistrate court.

Police asked not to arrest Ramoji Rao

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday asked the Visakhapatnam police not to arrest media baron Ramoji Rao till February 6. Justice Somayajulu issued this direction while dealing with an anticipatory bail petition filed by Mr Ramoji Rao on a cheating case registered against him by the Visakhapatnam police. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court had earlier ordered that a case be registered against the media baron on the basis of a petition filed by Mr Kumara Krishna Verma alleging that Mr Ramoji Rao and and his son Ch Kiron occupied his land at Nakkavaniplaem in Visakhapatnam.

Media Baron Ramoji still faces trouble from the State

Andhra Pradesh government on Wedenesday filed a criminal complaint in court against media baron Ch. Ramoji Rao and his company Margadarsi Financiers on alleged charges of violation of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1953.
Mr T. Krishna Raju, CID inspector-general of police, said the CID had searched the premises of Margadarsi Financiers on February 21, 2007. The CID team earlier seized incriminating documents, deposit certificates and a hard disc.

HC: Don’t summon Ramoji firm depositors

Hyderabad, Aug.10: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday directed the crime investigation department (CID) not to summon and secure deposit certificates of depositors of Margadarsi Financiers. Justice V. Eswaraiah passed interim orders after hearing the arguments on a writ petition filed by depositors of Margadarsi Financiers seeking a direction to restrain the CID from summoning them to record statements. The court granted three weeks to government to file a counter-affidavit. Advocate-general C.V. Mohan Reddy submitted to the court that the petition is not maintainable as the petitioner has no locus standi and the association itself was a fictitious one. The AG told the court that the government cannot give any undertaking not to summon the depositors.

CID seeks nod to test Ramoji firm hard disc
By Our Correspondent
Hyderabad, March 26: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Monday filed a petition in the first additional chief metropolitan magistrate court seeking permission to scrutinise documents seized from Margadarsi Financiers. The CID also requested the court to allow it to send a hard disc seized from the main server of Margadarsi Financiers for forensic examination. The CID said it needed assistance from technical, finance and forensic experts to access and scrutinise documents.
First additional chief metropolitan magistrate Prameela Reddy admitted the petition and posted the hearing to March 30. The court said it will also hear a petition filed by Margadarsi Financiers seeking documents from CID on the same day. Sources in the CID told this correspondent that certificates issued by Margadarsi Financiers carried a code word besides the amount of money deposited. The code, which is numerical or alpha-numerical, triggered suspicion, forcing them to seek the court’s permission to send the certificates to the State Forensic Laboratory for decoding.Sources told this correspondent that the CID suspected that the company had maintained fake deposits. Sources said that the company had allegedly "undervalued" the deposited money. Officials have alleged that though a certificate is issued for a face value of Rs 1 lakh, the actual money deposited could be more. The CID has sought the permission from the court to decipher the code used by the company