Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, whose rebellion against the Congress and rapid rise in politics has convulsed Andhra Pradesh, was arrested by the CBI on Sunday amid high drama.
The arrest of the YSR Congress chief followed eight hours of grilling at the CBI Camp Office on Raj Bhavan Road. Jagan was questioned for the third consecutive day in connection with a case of disproportionate wealth. His party has called for a state-wide bundh on Monday to protest the arrest.
The CBI, on an order from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, is investigating Jagan on the charge of possessing wealth beyond his known means of income.
The investigative agency arrested Jagan under Section 120b (Criminal conspiracy), Section 420 (Cheating); Section 477a ( Forgery of document), Section 409 (Criminal breach of trust), and Section 13(1)d, 13(2) r/w 477 (Prevention of Corruption Act).
Jagan’s mother Vijayalakshmi, popularly known as Vijayamma, wife Bharati, sister Sharmila and brother-in-law Anil arrived at Dilkusha Guest house a few minutes after his arrest was confirmed by the CBI around 7:20 pm.
Emerging from the guest house, a sobbing Vijayamma said she suspected the government’s intentions in arresting Jagan at the time of by-polls. “After this, my suspicions over a Congress conspiracy behind the death of my husband YSR are confirmed,” she added.
Indications that Jagan would be arrested came at 3 pm when the police, in a state-wide precautionary measure, took YSRCP party workers into custody, particularly in Kadapa, East Godavari and Vizianagaram districts. Buses to important coastal and Rayalaseema towns were cancelled and highway patrolling on Hyderabad to Vijayawada, Guntur and Kurnool routes was intensified.
In Hyderabad, police forced party workers to vacate the party central office in Jubilee Hills. Security at Dilkusha Guest house, Jagan’s Lotus Pond residence, CBI Special Courts in Nampally and CBI Judge Justice Pullaiah’s residence in Road No 10 , Banjara Hills was enhanced. Security for TDP President Nara Chandrababu Naidu also was increased.
The state police have deployed over 1,000 policemen in Kadapa district and also in Jagan’s native town Pulivendula in anticipation of trouble. In Taditota, centre of Rajahmundry in East Godavari district, miscreants pelted stones at buses, damaging them.
Deviating from the over the last two days, the CBI allowed Jagan to have his auditor and close aide Vijay Sai Reddy with him at the time of interrogation. Sources say that the CBI concentrated its questioning on the flow of funds into Jagan’s companies and Vijay Sai Reddy’s presence was required as Jagan was feigning innocence about complex financial issues.
Jagan and 13 other accused in the assets case are scheduled to attend the CBI court on Monday.
Mom, wife taken into custody
Late on Sunday night, police took into custody Jagan’s mother Vijayamma, wife Bharathi, sister Sharmila and other family members for staging a sit-in to protest his arrest and dropped them off at their residence.