Hyderabad: Ministers Dharmana Prasad Rao and Sabita Indra Reddy who quit their posts said that they have not committed any crime and will come out unscathed in court.
They were speaking to the media after meeting the Chief Minister on Monday evening for a second time. They said that they resigned to avoid the Congress getting a bad image. The ex-ministers maintained that they had just followed business rules and never violated rules to favour anyone.
They said that they had submitted their resignations after the CBI named them in its chargesheet in connection with Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s illegal assets case. Both Sabita and Dharmana claimed that they were innocent.
Prasad Rao said that he signed the files according to Cabinet decisions and that he did not take any personal decision regarding the allotment of lands. He said that the Opposition did not understand the case correctly.He said the CBI allegation was that some issues were kept secret from the Cabinet and that he violated some laws. He said that as revenue minister he did not hide anything from the Cabinet regarding allotting land for the Vanpic port. The CBI has pointed out only some technical issues, he  added.
Sabita Indra Reddy said that she had not indulged in any corruption in her career. She said she gave her resignation to the Chief Minister 20 days ago. She said that they had cooperated with the CBI investigation even when they were in power.
Sabita assured that she would abide by the decision taken by the High Command. Sabita said that she is completely relieved after the resignation.
Meanwhile, Sabita’s supporters staged a demo at her residence and raised slogans against the Chief Minister. They also gave a bandh call in Ranga Reddy district on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, several ministers visited the houses of Dharmana and Sabita on Monday. Dharmana told the ministers that he was made a scapegoat and that there was no case against Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said the GOs were a collective decision, and not that of any one individual.He said that he would obey the directions of the Congress High Command and continue to serve the party.
Dharmana, Sabita to file discharge plea
Home minister Sabita Indra Reddy and roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasad Rao have decided to file discharge petition in the CBI special court of charges levelled by the investigation agency.
The duo quit after being named accused in the alleged quid pro quo investments case of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The same legal team is defending both Dharmana and Sabita Indra Reddy.
Sources in Sabita’s camp said that the opinion of senior criminal advocate Padmanabha Reddy will be taken while fighting the cases. The two ministers have to appear along with other accused before the court on June 7.
“Initially, we wanted to fight the case stating that we were charged though no permission to prosecute us was granted. We expect the resignation to be accepted. There is no need for permission  when ministers are not in office. The other legal option is to go for discharge petition,” said a source close to Sabita.
The ministers will be taking a stand that there is no evidence against them in the CBI chargesheet and that they only implemented the Cabinet decisions.
A CBI prosecutor said, “discharge petitions are filed after a chargesheet is filed. The court takes cognisance of them and before framing of the charges. In Jagan case five chargesheets are filed so far. In three cases the accused file discharge petitions.” 
Sources said that Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will also be filing discharge petition in the courts regarding the chargesheets filed against him stating that there is no case made out against him.