Hyderabad :  In a significant development, the CBI Special Court judge T Pattabhi Rama Rao has been suspended  by the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh on the charges of granting bail to mining baron Janardhan Reddy in the Obalapuram mining case, in exchange of favours from him. The bail was granted on May 11.

Rao was recently appointed CBI Special judge and the Andhra Pradesh High Court which has now decided to act against under the AP Civil Services (CC$A) Rules-1991, Rule 8(1) has directed him not to leave Hyderabad.

It is said that  Janardhan Reddy by exerting his influence  on the judge had been successful in availing grant. It is now expected that the noose of CBI would be further tightened around Reddy.

Rama Rao who was the judge of the CBI Special Court at Naampalli in Hyderabad, despite strong objection from CBI had granted bail to Reddy. The suspension order now comes from the Andhra Pradesh High Court on charges of irregularities.