Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described his eight-hour-long grilling by the CBI on a hot summer day as “cool and peaceful”.
The YSR Congress chief was questioned at the Dilkusha Guest house in the city on Friday in a one-to-one with CBI joint director V.V. Lakshminarayana, who is leading the investigation into the disproportionate assets case.
He was asked questions regarding investments and the flow of funds into his companies. He will be questioned again on Saturday and maybe on Sunday too. He has to appear before the principal sessions judge for CBI cases on May 28.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy emerged from the Dilkusha Guesthouse at 6.30 pm and told waiting journalists that “clarifications had been sought and clarifications have been given. Tomorrow, in continuation of the clarifications sought, I am asked to appear at 10.30 am. Once again I will be seeing them. They will be asking for clarifications and I will give them”.
Asked about the tenor of the questioning, he said, “It was very cool and peaceful.”
While the Jagan camp sees a conspiracy behind the CBI move to prolong the questioning, reports appeared on anti-Jagan TV channels alleging that he did not cooperate with the investigation. The Jagan camp is apprehensive that the CBI may file a petition on May 28 asking for police custody of the Kadapa MP claiming that he did not cooperate with them in the questioning. They suspect it has all been done to keep him away from campaigning in the forthcoming byelections.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was accompanied on Friday morning by two Congress supporters, Anakapalle MP Sabbam Hari and Eluru MLA Alla Nani, and YSR Congress leader Bhuma Nagi Reddy.
Mr Hari said, “It was a one-to-one inquiry by the CBI joint director. No third person was present. I along with Nani and Bhuma were sitting in the lounge. I am a fan of YSR so I came here for his son Jagan.”
He alleged that it is a conspiracy. “Even Jagan said that the state and the Centre have conspired against him. I have been saying every time that six ministers have issued 26 GOs. Before talking about Jagan they should first tell whether the GOs are right or wrong.”
Asked if Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy will be arrested, he said, “You should pose this question to Mr Lakshminarayana.” He said Enforcement Directorate officials were not present at the questioning as reported by some TV channels.
There was a break in the questioning in the afternoon and Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was allowed to eat food sent from his home. His advocate, Mr Ashok Reddy, was present in the lounge at the guest house throughout the day.