Vijayawada: The high court on Thursday granted two weeks of interim protection from arrest to Koneru Satyanarayana, president of Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), who was named as an accused in the NAAC bribery case registered by CBI. As all sections included in the case are punishable with less than seven years of jail term, the high court asked CBI not to take any coercive steps.
CBI registered a case following allegations of bribing NAAC inspection team members for giving A++ grade to KL University. Along with Satyanarayana, it also named the university vice chancellor, vice-president, director, and some members of the NAAC team for accepting bribes.
Satyanarayana moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail. Arguing on his behalf, Dushyanth Reddy, who moved a lunch motion seeking urgent hearing, said Satyanarayana is about 70 years old and does not actively participate in the daily affairs of the university. He said the NAAC has 3,000 members, and it is not possible to pick select members for inspections and also bribe them.
CBI standing counsel PSP Suresh Kumar countered the arguments, stating that Satyanarayana is the president of KLEF and bribes were given to NAAC members upon his instructions. He said CBI also recovered the money after searches. Satyanarayana picked members who would listen to him and paid Rs 10 lakh as bribe. CBI has collected all evidence, including call records. When CBI officials went to arrest the petitioner, he complained of chest pain and was admitted to the hospital, but is in stable condition according to medical reports, he stated.
Considering the arguments, Justice K Srinivas Reddy observed that the offences alleged against the petitioner are punishable with less than seven years of jail term, and directed CBI not to take any coercive steps against Satyanarayana for two weeks. Asking to file a counter affidavit, he posted the matter for further hearing to Feb 13.
CBI registered a case following allegations of bribing NAAC inspection team members for giving A++ grade to KL University. Along with Satyanarayana, it also named the university vice chancellor, vice-president, director, and some members of the NAAC team for accepting bribes.
Satyanarayana moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail. Arguing on his behalf, Dushyanth Reddy, who moved a lunch motion seeking urgent hearing, said Satyanarayana is about 70 years old and does not actively participate in the daily affairs of the university. He said the NAAC has 3,000 members, and it is not possible to pick select members for inspections and also bribe them.
CBI standing counsel PSP Suresh Kumar countered the arguments, stating that Satyanarayana is the president of KLEF and bribes were given to NAAC members upon his instructions. He said CBI also recovered the money after searches. Satyanarayana picked members who would listen to him and paid Rs 10 lakh as bribe. CBI has collected all evidence, including call records. When CBI officials went to arrest the petitioner, he complained of chest pain and was admitted to the hospital, but is in stable condition according to medical reports, he stated.
Considering the arguments, Justice K Srinivas Reddy observed that the offences alleged against the petitioner are punishable with less than seven years of jail term, and directed CBI not to take any coercive steps against Satyanarayana for two weeks. Asking to file a counter affidavit, he posted the matter for further hearing to Feb 13.
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