Ramalinga Raju, others to appeal in AP High Court after sessions court rejects plea

A sessions court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by former Satyam Computer Chairman B. Ramalinga Raju and nine others convicted by a special court in the accounting fraud at the software company.

The Metropolitan Sessions Court judge at Nampally in Hyderabad rejected the appeal filed by the 10 people on the grounds that it was non-maintainable.

Raju, his brother B. Rama Raju and eight others will now appeal before the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking suspension of the sentence and fines imposed on them.

On April 9, the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Nampally had sentenced the 10 to seven years of rigorous imprisonment with different fines imposed on each.

Ramalinga Raju and Rama Raju are to pay Rs 5 crore each as fine. After the pronouncement of the judgment, all the 10 were taken to Cherlapally jail in Hyderabad.

In the high court, the accused will be seeking a suspension of the sentence and release on bail. Raju's lawyers have not indicated when the appeal will be filed in the high court.

Around 3,000 documents were marked and 226 witnesses examined by the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court during the trial that began nearly six years ago.

The 10 people have been convicted under different sections of the Indian Penal Code. Ramalinga Raju and Rama Raju have been convicted under section 409 (criminal breach of trust). Ramalinga Raju and former employee G. Ramakrishna have also been convicted under section 201 (destruction of evidence).