Cancellation of bail of B.Ramalinga Raju

C.B.I., Hyderabad v Ramaraju And Ors.

                        and

C.B.I., Hyderabad v B. Ramalinga Raju

Criminal appeals were filed by the CBI against the orders of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh granting bail to the accused B.Ramalinga Raju and others.

According to the CBI, the accused were involved in one of the greatest corporate scams of the commercial world. As a result of it lakhs of shareholders  and  others      had      been        duped     and     the     corporate credibility of the nation had received a serious  setback. Without making any detailed observation regarding the conduct of the accused as it may prejudice the trial later, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to all the accused.

The Supreme Court reasoned that though ordinarily it would have been  slow  in cancelling the bail already granted by the High Court but  in the      extraordinary facts and circumstances of these cases, the bail orders passed by the High Court, couldnot be sustained in law.

The accused were directed to surrender on or before 10th November, 2010. The Trial Court was directed to take up the case on day to day basis and to conclude the trial of the case as expeditiously as possible, in any event, on or before 31st July, 2011. It even directed the Trial Court not to grant any undue adjournments, unless it is absolutely imperative. Also the Trial Court was directed to decide the case without being influenced by any observations made by the High Court or by this order. The parties  were  further  directed  to examine only material and   most essential  witnesses  and fully cooperate with the Trial Court. The accused were directed to be produced before the Trial Court on   every   date   of   hearing unless exempted. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh was also requested not to transfer the notified judicial officer until the trial was concluded.