CBI plea for custody of Rajus posted to March 6

HYDERABAD: A local court here posted to March 6 the plea of the CBI seeking custody of tainted Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju after the probing agency said that it was gathering judgements of Supreme Court supporting its request for the custodial interrogation of accused.

The CBI counsel informed the XIV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate it is collecting the apex court's judgements in support of its plea after a defence lawyer challenged the CBI's move to take the custody of Raju and others saying that a fresh custody for interrogation could not be given once the first one had lapsed.

Raju was arrested on January 18 and was in police custody for five days so far. The case was being investigated by the Andhra Pradesh Police's CB-CID before being transferred to the CBI, which registered a case on February 20.

The counsel informed the court the CBI was collecting all the judgements of Supreme Court supporting its claim that Raju and four others could again be sent to the custody and would therefore require time. The court, after hearing arguements of both sides, posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

CBI on Tuesday filed a petition in the court seeking 7 days custody of Rajus and other accused for interrogating them in connection with the Rs 7,800-crore Satyam fraud case.