Raheja Mindspace project faces ACB probe

Raheja Mindspace project faces ACB probe

Paving the way for an anti-corruption bureau probe into the alleged irregularities in the Raheja Mindspace project in Madhapur here, Justice Raja Elango of the high court on Friday dismissed the criminal revision petitions filed by Neil Raheja, project chief, Ravindranath, general manager of the project, IAS officers BP Acharya (former MD of APIIC) and K Ratna Prabha, and senior IPS officer M Gopikrishna (both were with the information technology and communication department at the relevant point in time).

Earlier, following a complaint by an advocate, the ACB court directed the police to register a case and inquire into the matter. This was later stayed by the HC following a petition by Raheja and others. The HC on Friday delivered its judgment dismissing their pleas questioning the order of the ACB court entertaining a complaint and directing the investigation into the circumstances leading to the reduction of the shares of the government in the Raheja joint venture. The judge rejected the plea that the court erred in directing the investigation against the beneficiaries or the officials. He reasoned that there was no reason to interfere with the order at the investigation stage.

Minister's conviction stayed: Justice Raja Elango on Friday stayed the conviction and sentence awarded to minister K Parthasarathy by economic offences court in the FERA violation case. The imposition of penalty itself was stayed earlier by the high court. Friday's HC order gave the minister the much-needed respite as the conviction too was stayed till November 10 when the matter is to be taken up for final hearing. The criminal court had sentenced him for failure to pay the penalty amount.