CBI grills Jagan in assets case

YSR Congress chiefs questioning to continue today; arrest imminent

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday grilled YSR Congress Party president and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets case for over seven hours amid speculations that he would be arrested.

Coming out of the Dilkusha Guest House, the CBI office here, Jagan told reporters that he was asked to appear for another questioning session on Saturday. “Clarifications have been sought and clarifications have been given. It was very cool and peaceful. I got to be here at 10.30 am on Saturday.”

CBI officials led by joint director V V Lakshminarayana questioned accused number one Jagan, former minister Mopidevi Ramana, Nimmagadda Prasad of Vanpic and bureaucrat Brahmananda Reddy about the Vanpic deal.
This is the first time that Jagan appeared before the CBI since the agency registered disproportionate assets case against him and 71 others in August last year.

Amidst a tight security blanket of the City police, Jagan left his Lotus Pond residence and drove to the guest house adjacent to the Raj Bhavan for questioning by a CBI team.
Police monitored the seven kilometre drive through CCTV cameras and the entire route was cordoned off and sanitised hours before Jagans arrival. Even media was not allowed inside the CBI camp office and had to keep vigil in the hot sun outside for Jagan’s arrival .

Apprehending trouble, police had arranged unprecedented security in Hyderabad and the rest of the state by clamping prohibitory orders under Sec 144.

In spite of the police roadblock and barricades, Jagan supporters had gathered in large numbers at various road junctions and raised slogans.

On his part Jagan appeared cool and calm but his unshaven face displayed his pensive mood. Clad in a black trouser and white full sleeve shirt he strode into the CBI office along with Amalapuram MP Sabbam Hari, state legislators A K Srinivas and Bhuma Nagi Reddy. CBI officials said he remained calm during the entire quizzing and spoke in monosyllable.

Jagan followers burnt two government city bus at L B Nagar and Vanasthalipuram in protest against CBI summons. Two deaths were reported from Chittoor district.
Subramanayam of Chowdepalli suffered massive heart attack after watching TV news about the Jagan’s imminent arrest. A physically challenged youth, Iswar Reddy, 29, allegedly committed suicide in Nadamuru village anticipating Jagan’s arrest.

 Jittery ministers seek CM’s explanation

Shocked cabinet colleagues of former excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, including those who have received notices from the Super Court  on Thursday, have demanded Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy to explain the strategy in tackling the Jagan threat, reports DHNS from Hyderabad.

The ministers were irate since it was one of their colleagues, and not Jagan, who walked to prison to imply that corruption is more a Congress issue at a time when the party is preparing to face bypolls in 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha constituency on June 12.

 “We have been telling people that Jagan is corrupt. By not protecting Mopidevi we (instead) have projected Congress as a corrupt party. Why Sabitha Indra Reddy is left unscathed and an innocent BC leader is made a scapegoat. It is surprising that only two or three Congress men reached Dilkusha Guest House to announce solidarity to Mopidevi,” a senior cabinet minister said.

Despite Sabitha Indra, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and others asserting they did nothing wrong, a sense of uncertainty prevails over the cabinet as to who is next in the line for arrest.

Ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana and Ponnala Lakshmaiah said they were ready to face the CBI regarding the 26 Gos. The YSR Congress Party has described the arrest as a conspiracy to create a trail that would eventually lead to Jagan.  It dubbed Mopidevi’s resignation as a concoction.