Hyderabad, June 1: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to arrest a First Additional CBI Judge Pattabhi Ramarao on charges of accepting a huge bribe to grant bail to former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in an illegal mining case. The agency has found that Rs10 crore -- and not Rs 5 crore as suspected earlier -- changed hands. It may also book the judge’s son and others involved, CBI sources said. The CBI has learnt that a retired judge and a man with a criminal past acted as mediators. The cash was allegedly brought from Bellary in Karnataka to Hyderabad in two installments. The agency has identified five bank lockers of Ramarao and others where the money was deposited. CBI officials seized Rs 1.60 crore from a bank locker in Ashoknagar area of Hyderabad. Under the deal between the judge and the relatives of Janardhana Reddy, it was agreed that Rs 3 crore would be paid before the bail order and Rs 7 crore thereafter. Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Madan B Lokur suspended the CBI judge on corruption charges and ordered an inquiry against him, officials said. Ramarao had granted bail to Reddy, the key accused in the Obulapuram Mining Co (OMC) illegal mining case on May 12. Meanwhile, a group of lawyers from Telangana region on Friday staged a protest outside the high court demanding the arrest of the suspended judge. (IANS) |