The CBI arrested Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday, a day before he was to appear before the Nampally criminal court.
The YSR Congress chief, who was interrogated for the third consecutive day at the Dilkusha guest house in the disproportionate assets case, will be produced in court on Monday.
The entire state was put on high alert ahead of his arrest and the police imposed near-curfew-like conditions in major towns and cities fearing a backlash from the MP’s supporters.
Throughout the day the CBI kept YSR Congress leaders and the Kadapa MP’s counsels guessing. Senior leaders close to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, including Congress MP Sabbam Hari, MLC Jupudi Prabhakar Rao and MLA Ranga Rao, who were waiting at Dilkusha for the interrogation to finish for the day, were shocked by the news of his arrest.
CBI joint director V.V. Lakshminarayana, present during the questioning, went out to meet the additional solicitor-general who was stationed at a hotel. Sources said the CBI effected the arrest only after getting clearance from New Delhi.
After receiving news of the arrest, the Kadapa MP’s mother, Y.S. Vijayalaksh-mi, his wife Y.S. Bharathi, sister Sharmila, brother-in-law Anil Kumar and uncle Y.V. Subba Reddy reached the Dilkusha guest house. They appeared shocked by the arrest. MLC Prabhakar said, “Y.S. Jagan was arrested at 7.20 pm. This arrest is illegal. We call upon the people to remain calm.”
CBI officials said they needed further clarification in police custody. The CBI, which has filed three chargesheets so far in the assets case, has alleged that firms belonging to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy received quid pro quo investments from investors favoured by his father YSR.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, “Accused No. 1” in the case, is the fifth person to be arrested. He was spearheading the campaign for the upcoming byelections.
Mr Hari said, “They have allowed only his mother, wife and sister to talk to him. We don’t know whether they will lodge him at Dilkusha or shift him for the night.”