The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday suspended another district judge in the cash-for-bail scam of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy.
Dr D. Prabhakar Rao, a judge of the family court and IIIrd additional district judge at Srikakulam, was placed under suspension by the High Court.
The High Court has already suspended T. Pattabhi Rama Rao, the then special judge of the CBI court, who was bribed to grant bail to Janardhan Reddy on May 11.
Dr Rao of the district sessions judge cadre, was on deputation to the State Election Commission. He was recalled to the AP State Judicial Service on Thursday following a report from the Anti-Corruption Bureau about his alleged involvement in the case and posted to Srikakulam.
The ACB has made several arrests in the case — Pattabhi Rama Rao, his son T. Ravichandra, retired district judge T.V. Chalapathi Rao and history-sheeter P. Yadagiri Rao.
Court acts on cash-for-bail ACB report
The interrogation of T. Ravichandra, son of judge Pattabhi Rama Rao, and retired judge T.V. Chalapathi Rao in the Gali Janardhan Reddy cash-for-bail scam revealed the role of Dr Prabhakar Rao, the Anti-Corruption Bureau report said.
The ACB submitted a report to the State Election Commission laying out the case against Dr Rao. It wanted to question him about his alleged role in the case as well as that of other persons who brokered the deal.
The Election Commission sent the report to the High Court. The administrative committee of the High Court headed by the acting Chief Justice P.C. Ghose decided to recall the services of Dr Rao to initiate action against him.
The judge was posted to Srikakulam and soon after assuming charge, he was served a suspension order by the principal sessions judge, Srikakulam.