Cash-for-bail scam: MLA Gali Somashekhar Reddy arrested

Bellary city MLA Gali Somashekhar Reddy, an accused in the cash-for-bail scam involving his brother and jailed former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, was today arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), officials said.

"Somashekhar Reddy, who was being grilled since Friday last by ACB sleuths, has been arrested," ACB Director General B Prasada Rao said.

Somashekhar has been charged with "playing a key role in bribing several crores" to suspended judge T Pattabhirama Rao in granting bail to mining baron Janardhan Reddy.

He is the second legislator from Karnataka to be arrested by the ACB, which is probing the case following the arrest of BJP's Kampli MLA T H Suresh Babu last week.

In its complaint to ACB, the CBI which had cracked the case said Somashekhar, Suresh Babu, Dasaratha Ram Reddy (Gali's relative), advocate T Aditya, retired judges TV Chalapathi Rao, Pattabhirama Rao and others had allegedly entered into a conspiracy for showing official favour and granting bail to Janardhan Reddy and thus committed criminal conduct.

Amid allegations of illegal gratification and corruption against Pattabhirama Rao, the Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended him on May 31 while transferring the case to ACB.

Somashekhar is the 11th person to be arrested so far by ACB in the case that includes three serving judges, including Pattabhirama Rao.

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