JOIN USFrom a small-time realtor who used to occasionally help his father during poll campaigns, to a high-profile industrialist with interests in power, infrastructure, cement and media sectors, Jagan’s rise has been phenomenal. So was his tryst with controversies.
The growth of his business empire is only matched by brazenness of his political ambitions. In April 2009, he had declared that he possessed assets worth Rs 77.40 crore. This means his assets have since grown by nearly five-fold in just two years. As per the income tax returns filed in 2004 when he was yet to enter politics, the assets in his name were just Rs 9.18 lakh.
His wealth mainly stems from four business entities —Sandur Power Company Ltd which he took over in 2001; Bharathi Cement Corporation Ltd; Jagati Publications, incorporated in 2006, which publishes Telugu daily “Sakshi” and Indira TV which owns Sakshi channel.
Typically, Jagan’s business empire is a network of closely held family companies with cross-holdings in Sandur and Jagati.
It was in August 2011 that the CBI registered a case against Jagan on the direction of the Andhra Pradesh High Cour. This was followed by countrywide searches on the Kadapa MP’s offices and residences in August 2011. Several computers, hard disks, files and other documents from Bharati Cements Limited, a company founded by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, were obtained. Based on this information, CBI officials began enquiring into details about the companies that have invested in Jagan’s companies, which revealed involvement of several government officials, MLA’s and ministers, along with Emaar Properties officials.