Hyderabad: The CBI, which is probing the
alleged multi-crore financial fraud in Satyam Computers, on Wednesday
strongly objected to the petition of former MD Rama Raju
seeking permission to use laptops inside the jail.
Raju and its former CFO Vadlamani Srinivas on November 12
had filed a petition in the XIV Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate court here seeking its permission to use laptops to
enable their defence in various cases.
Opposing the petition, CBI's deputy legal advisor B
Ravindranath contended that the purpose of judicial custody of
the accused will not serve any purpose if they were permitted
to operate laptops in the jail as the investigations were at
a crucial stage.
The CBI investigations reveal that crores of rupees were
diverted by the accused to third parties in foreign countries
from Satyam Computers, he alleged and added that investigation
in this regard was still on.
The CBI counsel argued that if Raju and Srinivas were
permitted to operate laptops they could get access through
wireless internet to anybody and destroy the evidence of
prosecution.
Ravindranath said the agency has posted a letter to six
countries —- United States, UK, Belgium, British Virgin
Islands, Mauritius and Singapore -- seeking information with
regard to alleged diversion of funds, which was still awaited.
The CBI counsel argued, "At this stage using of
electronic equipment (laptops) would hamper the investigations
abroad," and pointed out that there was no provision under
Prisons Rules to provide any electronic equipment to the
accused.
Arguing in support of the petition, Bharat Kumar and
Ravindra Reddy said their clients have sought permission from
the court to direct the jail authorities to use laptops to
defend themselves in various cases slapped by different
agencies, including SEBI, SFIO, Enforcement Directorate and
Company Law Board.
They (Satyam accused) also want to use the laptops to go
through the contents of the CDs related to the case that are
in voluminous records, Reddy said.
The CBI counsel, however, argued "Let the accused be
provided typewriters to prepare notes."
He said the prosecution was ready to provide hard copies
of contents of CDs (which contains information given by
Registrar of Companies) if the court gave directions in this
regard.
To this, the defence counsel questioned as to why the
prosecution was opposing laptop use when it wanted a speedy
trial and alleged the jail premises lacked basic
infrastructure which could hinder them from using typewriters.
After hearing the arguments, Magistrate K Sudhakar
reserved his orders for November 26.
Raju and Srinivas, who are in judicial remand, are lodged
in the Chanchalguda Jail here since early January, after
Satyam's founder B Ramalinga Raju admitted to fudging of
accounts in the IT firm.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 18:26