There is no respite for Govindaraju, owner of a mining company, as the 23rd Additional City Civil and a Sessions court rejected his bail application yesterday.

Court rejects Bilekeri port accused bail plea

There is no respite for Govindaraju, owner of a mining company, as the 23rd Additional City Civil and a Sessions court rejected his bail application yesterday.

Special Public Prosecutor IS Pramod Chandra, who had filed objections for the bail argued that Govindaraju was highly influential and could threaten the witnesses in this case.

Govindaraju was caught while he was trying to bribe a CID inspector to delay the investigations in the Bilekeri port iron ore missing case.

Chandra added that Govindaraju might go to any extent to hamper investigations if he was granted bail.

Considering the argument, the court remanded Govindaraju to custody and the matter is posted for October 5.

The case

Govindaraju was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta investigators while he was trying to bribe Venkatesh, a CID inspector, to delay the investigations regarding the Bilekeri port iron ore missing case, in which his brother is one of the accused.

Govindaraju, who struck a deal with Venkatesh, an investigating officer in the case, for Rs 10 lakh had come to the city to hand over the money on September 19.

Govindaraju had asked Venkatesh to help his brother Mahesh and delay the investigations to help him avoid arrest.

Initially the Lokayukta police had booked Venkatesh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, but later decided to make him an approver.