Dharmana Prasad Rao, Sabita Indra Reddy custody petition rejected

Two former ministers received reprieve when a special court in Hyderabad on Wednesday rejected a CBI plea seeking their judicial custody in connection with the quid pro quo case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought judicial custody of former ministers Sabitha Indra Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao, both accused in the case.
The court rejected the petition saying there is no evidence that they could influence witnesses if not taken into custody.

The investigating agency in June had submitted to the court a CD containing clippings of their interaction with media which, it argued, could influence the investigations. It also gave in writing to the court the statements made by the two former ministers.
Sabitha resigned as home minister and Dharmana as roads and buildings minister in May after the CBI named them as accused in the case.

Sabita was charged with allotting 407 acres in Kadapa district as a minister for mines. Dharmana Prasada Rao too was facing charges in Vanpic case.