The best way to escape from imprisonment in sensational cases for any accused is to turn an approver, so as to make things easier for the investigation agencies. That is perhaps the only way an accused be granted pardon from the court.
This has once again been proved in Delhi liquor policy scam. Yet another main accused in the scam – Magunta Raghava Reddy, son of YSR Congress party MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, is all set to turn an approver in the case, reports from Delhi said.
Raghava has submitted an affidavit to this effect under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the Rouse Avenue special court in New Delhi on Thursday. He is presently on interim bail and trying for a regular bail, for which he approached the Delhi high court which will hear the case on August 10.
On July 18, the Delhi high court granted four-week bail to Raghava and the Enforcement Directorate, which had earlier strongly opposed the bail petition of Raghava, did not oppose the bail to him this time.
The Delhi high court asked Raghava to cooperate with the ED authorities by appearing before them whenever he was required to come for questioning.
The bail was granted to Raghava, nearly 50 days after the Delhi court letting off P Sarath Chandra Reddy, director of Aurobindo Group and relative of YSRCP general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy, after he turned an approver in the case.
Earlier in April, another accused in the case Gorantla Buchi Babu, former chartered accountant of Bharat Rashtra Samithi legislator and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha, also turned an approver and got the bail.
The ED also named Kavitha’s name in the remand report of Raghava, who is a key player among the South Group, along with Arun Pillai, Abhishek Boinpally and G Buchi Babu.
Raghava is the owner of liquor manufacturing units in the name of Enrica Enterprises Pvt Ltd located in Chennai. He controlled two retail zones in the name of Magunta Agro Farms Pvt Ltd directly in contravention of the Excise Policy 2021-22.
The ED alleged that Raghava, through his proxy, Prem Rahul Manduri, also held a 32.5 per cent stake in Indo Spirits, which held L1 wholesale licence and alleged that Raghava had paid Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders.
