Cash-for-bail case: Sreeramulu to appear before ACB Tuesday

Founder of BSR Congress B

Sreeramulu, who was served notice by the Anti-Corruption

Bureau police from Andhra Pradesh, today said he would

appear before it Tuesday. "I would appear before ACB in Hyderabad Tuesday and

cooperate with the authorities investigating the case

(cash-for-bail scandal)," he told reporters here. Sreeramulu said he has faith in the judiciary and

respect for the law of the country. Asked if there was any conspiracy against him, Sreeramulu

declined to comment. Sreeramulu dismissed apprehensions that it would hit his

party's prospects in the future. In its remand report in the court after the arrest of

BJP's Kampli MLA T H Suresh Babu on July 31, ACB had claimed

that Sreeramulu had called up Babu, his nephew, on April 21. Sreeramulu allegedly told Babu that R Suryaprakash

Babu from Hyderabad knew some judges and was ready to help for

procuring bail for Gali Janardhan Reddy, jailed in illegal

mining scam. Apart from Suresh Babu, ACB has also arrested Janardhan

Reddy's brother and Bellary MLA Gali Somashekhar Reddy, who is

accused of striking the deal and bribing judge T Pattabhirama

Rao (now supsended) for grant of bail to the mining baron. Pattabhirama Rao granted bail to Reddy in May, but

rejected the bail plea of suspended IAS officer Y Srilakshmi

in the same case, on the same day. Amid allegations of bribery, Andhra Pradesh High Court

suspended Rao on May 31, and handed over the case to ACB.