A local court today dismissed the bail petition of suspended IAS officer B P Acharya, prime accused in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in APIIC-Emaar properties deal. The special court for CBI cases agreed with CBI lawyer that Acharya may tamper with evidence if released. Acharya, a 1983-batch IAS officer, who was the Andhra Pradesh Home Secretary when arrested by CBI on January 31, is in judicial custody.
The CBI had strongly opposed Acharya’s bail application and accused the Andhra Pradesh government of “intentionally” delaying sanction to prosecute him. It had also alleged that he himself was “influencing” some senior officials in the Secretariat. But Acharya’s lawyer had contended that the chargesheet (in Emaar case) had already been filed and there was no question of tampering with evidence or threatening witnesses.
CBI has accused Acharya, who was former Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), of entering into a criminal conspiracy with officials of realty firm Emaar Group and unknown public servants to cheat state-run APIIC in the joint Integrated Township Project at Gachibowli.
–PTI–