No custody beyond judicial remand period: HC

Vijayawada: Observing that custody of accused cannot be granted beyond the period of judicial remand, the high court on Friday modified the order of the Visakhapatnam metropolitan sessions judge, granting custody of the accused in the alleged APSSDC scam to the Enforcement Directorate till March 20 when their judicial remand ends on March 18.

Former Siemens MD Soumyadri Shekhar Bose, Designtech Systems MD Vikas Vinayak Khanvelkar, official signatory of SEPL Mukul Chandra Agarwal, and chartered accountant Suresh Goyal were arrested by the ED over allegations of money laundering. They were first sent in judicial remand and later given ED custody by the trial court. The accused then moved the high court, challenging their custody to ED.

Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel B Adinarayana Rao said the trial court granted their custody by violating the guidelines of the Supreme Court. When their judicial remand is ending on March 18, how can the trial court grant their custody to ED till March 20, he asked, adding that custody of the accused cannot be granted beyond the period of judicial remand. Rao further argued that ED officials are questioning the accused till midnight against law.

Deputy solicitor general N Harinath refuted the allegations of questioning the accused till midnight. He said the custody petition was granted earlier but the order was given at a later stage.

Considering the arguments, Justice K Srinivas Reddy said custody of the accused cannot be granted beyond the period of judicial remand. Modifying the order passed by trial court, the court said their custody will be till the period of their judicial remand. Further hearing on the allegations of questioning the accused till midnight has been posted after two weeks.