One Telugu film producer gets bail, another one denied

A local court today granted bail to Tollywood (Telugu film industry) producer Ch Kalyan in two cheating cases, however, dismissed the bail plea of another film producer Singanamala Ramesh Babu in a case of fraud. Kalyan and Ramesh Babu (presently under judicial custody in a jail here), who were last month arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department(CID) from Chennai, were facing charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal intimidation regarding DVD and VCD rights of Telugu film 'Komaram Puli', produced in the name of Kanaka Ratna Movies, owned by Singanamala Ramesh and partnered by Kalyan's Balaji Colour Labs in Jubilee Hills. The duo was also facing similar charges of "failing" to give the DVD and VCD rights of 'Kaleja' movie, despite taking amounts from the complainants, CID officials said. The XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Court, today granted bail to Ramesh and Kalyan in these two cases, CID Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Kumar told PTI. The court, however denied bail to Ramesh Babu in the case relating to a Rs 14.69-crore "fraud", committed by him, along with absconding Bhanu Kiran (who is the prime accused in the murder case of Maddelacheruvu Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri). The court agreed to the contention of the defence, which said that both the (cheating) cases pertain to civil transactions and that Ramesh and Kalyan were unnecessarily linked to the cases. "There was no question of criminal intimidation and they were willing to pay remaining due amount," the defence counsel had earlier argued seeking their bail. However, the CID had opposed to their bail saying further investigation in the case was on and it was verifying certain documents relating to the case. If they are enlarged on bail they may threaten the witnesses and tamper with the evidence, the CID, which is investigating all the three cases, said. PTI VVK NP