The Hindu : National : Deposit documents after cataloguing: court

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Friday, Feb 23, 2007
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National

National

Deposit documents after cataloguing: court

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Documents and a computer server, seized by the police during their search on the premises of Margadarsi Financiers here, were submitted in court on Thursday but the judge ordered that they be deposited only after proper cataloguing.

First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Y.H. Prameela Reddy, who issued a warrant to search the head office and two branches, also asked officials of the Crime Investigation Department to clearly spell out the physical condition of the material, including documents, while depositing it on Saturday.

Interlocutory application

Meanwhile, Margadarsi filed an interlocutory application in another court, seeking possession of the computer server and bank cheques seized from the head office. The server was believed to be the database of the operations of the firm.

First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge S. Anantasayana Prasad, posted for Saturday hearing on the application as well as a revision petition seeking a stay on the searches. Mr. Prasad ordered that the search and sealing be stopped when the revision petition came up before him on Wednesday evening.

"Order not honoured"

Counsel for Margadarsi Padmanabha Reddy told the judge that the police did not honour his direction to stop the search. The CID team carried away the material in trunks even after the receipt of the court orders. Eight cheques kept ready for distribution to depositors were also taken away. What wasthe purpose of the search, to make depositors suffer or settle personal scores, he wondered.

Special Public Prosecutor S. Satyanarayana Prasad refuted the charge that the Government acted with mala fide intentions. He pointed out that an appeal on the plea of mala fides was struck down by the Andhra Pradesh High Court earlier. The material was seized and transported well before the receipt of the court orders. There were two rooms packed with records, which were yet to be searched. The staff and lawyers of Margadarsi obstructed the investigating team at every stage, said the prosecutor.

He said he would file a counter-affidavit on the interlocutory application.

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