Jagan must face CBI: Court

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The cat-and-mouse game between the CBI and the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, may end on May 25, with the likely arrest of the leader when he appears before officials at the Dilkusha Guest House. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s efforts to evade the investigating agency till the byelections turned futile on Wednesday with the Andhra Pradesh High Court deciding not put a stay order on the notice issued by the CBI for his appearance on Friday for questioning in the disproportionate assets case.

The YSR Congress chief had challenged the notice issued by the CBI on Wednesday before the High Court, stating that he feared he would be taken into custody when he appeared for questioning. While disposing of the plea, Justice Chandra Kumar directed the CBI to strictly adhere to the provisions of Section 41(A) of the CrPC, once the petitioner appeared before it. The relevant section mandates the investigating officer to record the reasons both for arresting and not arresting an accused once he or she appears before him.

Appearing on Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s behalf, the senior counsel of the Supreme Court, Sushil Kumar, argued that his client had not been summoned by the CBI in the last eight-and-a-half months. He added that the CBI intended to take custody of his client based on confessions made by the arrested businessman, Mr Nimmagadda Prasad, and the former secretary of the ports and infrastructure department, Mr K.V. Brahamnanda Reddy, in connection with allotment of lands to the Vanpic project.

He said that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was on his election campaign and should be allowed to appear before the CBI after June 15. If that was not possible, Mr Kumar said that the CBI should be directed not to arrest his client after being questioned in the presence of Mr Prasad and Mr Brahamnanda Reddy.

Jagan calls for restraint
Shortly after the AP High Court turned down a request to postpone the CBI summons, YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to the people of the state to observe restraint, whatever be the outcome on May 25, when he will be questioned by the investigating agency. Speaking at an election meeting held in Macherla Assembly segment on Wednesday evening, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “I don’t really know whether the conspiracies hatched by the Congress and TD are going to bear fruit or not, but I appeal to all of you to maintain the utmost restraint in the days to come.” “The same CBI is keeping silent on the dubious deals in Gangavaram and Kakinada ports development engineered by Chandrababu Naidu,” Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged. He said whatever the consequences, people should teach a lesson to both the Congress and TD.