Court rejects bail to Katta Naidu

A court here on Monday rejected the bail plea of former Karnataka minister Katta Subramanaya Naidu filed on health grounds but permitted the land scam accused to undergo treatment in any hospital in the country.

Lokayukta special court judge N K Sudhindra Rao declined bail to Naidu, who has been in judicial custody since August 8 for his alleged involvement in Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board land scam.

The judge, however, gave permission to Naidu the right to procure necessary treatment for cancer in any hospital of his choice, either private or government in Bangalore or elsewhere in the country.

Slapping stringent conditions, the judge said the treatment should be under guard and surveillance and even the place of treatment in the hospital be guarded by jail officials or police staff.

In case the presence of security personnel caused inconvenience to private hospital management, those drafted for security could be in plain clothes. The judge said it is necessary to mention that humanity demands that a person, whether an accused or not, is entitled for medical care and attention.

Naidu, who has been suffering from lymphona cancer has moved the court praying that he be granted bail and undergo treatment of the ailment. The Lokayukta court and Karnataka High Court had rejected Naidu’s bail plea earlier.