Katta Subramanya Naidu, son granted bail

BANGALORE: The Lokayukta Special Court on Monday evening granted conditional bail to former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, his son Katta Jagadish and the former director of ITASCA software company S V Srinivas on humanitarian grounds.Judge N K Sudheendra Rao who took up the case, took into account the recent Supreme Court order in the 2G spectrum case in which the accused were granted bail, said it was just and fair to grant them bail on humanitarian grounds.The judge also considered the fact that the Lokayukta lawyer had not strongly opposed the former minister’s bail plea. He also said Katta Subramanya Naidu and his family should bear medical treatment expenses, before passing the order.The Katta senior had sought the bail to get treatment for cancer at Royal Free Hampstead Hospital in London, while his son had stated in the plea that he had to accompany his father to London for treatment as he was the only son.Meanwhile, Srinivasa, who suffered a slipped disc, had also sought bail on health grounds.However, Katta Jagadish’s advocates had a tough time convincing the judge to secure him bail. When the advocate said the Katta senior’s appointment with the London hospital was scheduled for December 19, the judge asked them how they could arrange a visa for Jagadish in such a short notice.He also warned the advocate that if Jagadish did not accompany his father to London, it would be considered as a violation of the bail condition, and said the court would immediately cancel the bail, if any bail condition was violated.Katta was in Parappana Agrahara central prison before he was granted a three-month bail on medical grounds by the High Court on October 31.Katta Jagadish and Srinivas have spent 122 days of imprisonment in the jail, and they would be released on Tuesday morning.The accused have been asked to submit a bond of Rs 5 lakh each and two sureties. They must submit their bank passbooks clearly documenting transactions from 2007 onwards.Except for medical treatment, the Katta duo should not leave the country, the judge said. Srinivasa is not permitted to go to any foreign country.