The Supreme Court on Monday heard a plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Dodda Venkata Satya Prasad, an accused-turned-approver in the alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, with Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave contending that the State had accorded him preferential treatment to secure evidence against former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Appearing for the petitioner, Chevireddi Bhaskar Reddy, Mr Dave argued that Satya Prasad had remained in custody for 225 days and was being projected as the prosecution’s principal witness against the former Chief Minister despite there being no other substantive evidence.
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“This evidence, the best evidence, is only to reach the former Chief Minister against whom there isn’t [other evidence]. The deal which has been struck between the accused and the State is that in your statement you will name the former Chief Minister, and therefore that is the best evidence that will come. There is nothing else…Everyone else’s bail was opposed tooth and nail before this Court. Every anticipatory bail in the matter was dismissed and every bail application was contested. Only for this person the State is rolling out a red carpet. There has to be something more. What is so special about this accused?” he argued.
Mr Dave further submitted that while he was not questioning the Court’s power to grant pardon to an approver, the petitioner reserved the right to challenge any such order if and when it was passed.
The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana observed that the petitioner would be at liberty to assail the grant of pardon in accordance with law at the appropriate stage.
The matter arises out of the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order granting anticipatory bail to Satya Prasad after he expressed willingness to become an approver in the alleged liquor scam.