KVP moves HC as CID looks to CBI for warrant

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Police on Friday confirmed receipt of the red corner notice issued by the National Central Bureau, an arm of the Interpol, against Congress Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao.

Rao has been indicted by an American court in an alleged international racketeering conspiracy involving bribes of $ 18.5 million for allowing mining of titanium minerals in the State.

Police officials, however, said they had received only the red corner notice, not a warrant, which they said, was necessary for his arrest. A senior police official told 'We will ask the CBI to send the warrant to facilitate Rao's arrest.'

The National Central Bureau had written to the CBI seeking Rao's provisional arrest till all the documents were handed over to India through diplomatic channels.

The CBI forwarded the letter to the State Police for taking appropriate action. Sources said the CID would write to the CBI which in turn would seek a non-bailable warrant (NBW) from the Patiala Court in Delhi, which deals with cases of extradition.

'Once the NBW is issued by the court, the same will be sent to the AP Police which can proceed with the arrest,' the sources explained.

KVP, meanwhile, moved the High Court seeking a stay on his possible arrest. Senior counsel S Satyanarayana Prasad, appearing for Rao, made a special mention before Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao seeking his permission to move a lunch motion.

He told the court his client was apprehending arrest in view of the red corner notice. The judge, however, directed the counsel to move the petition in the normal course following which the latter filed the plea. It is likely to come up for hearing on Monday.

KVP, in his petition, contended that he had nothing to do with the alleged titanium mining licence scam and argued that US laws cannot be applied for alleged offences committed in India.

He urged the court to direct the CID and the CBI to verify the legality of the red corner notice as there have been media reports indicating his arrest at any moment.

As per the Indo-US extradition treaty, a red corner notice cannot be issued without giving an opportunity to the affected person to make his side of the story clear. KVP stated he didn't even get a notice.

State to cancel mining pact

The State government is set to cancel the titanium lease with Bothli Trade AG, signed in 2006. Governor ESL Narasimhan's advisor AN Roy, who is holding the mines portfolio, indicated the lease may be scrapped sooner than later. Asked about it, he replied, 'Why not?'