4 AP ministers under scanner

Four Andhra Pradesh Ministers may come under CBI scanner for their alleged role in issuing controversial Government Orders that have become the basis for filing a case against YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Jaganmohan was arrested in an alleged disproportionate assets case on May 27 after being grilled for three days by the investigating agency.

Dharmana Prasada Rao, J Geeth Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaih and Sabitha Reddy who held Revenue, Major Industries, Irrigation and Mining portfolio respectively during YS Rajasekhara Reddy’ regime will be questioned for their role in issuing certain GOs that are alleged to have favoured some companies which in turn invested in Jaganmohan’s companies as Quid-pro-quo, the CBI said in an affidavit field before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on March 12 issued notices to six Andhra Pradesh ministers and eight IAS officers on a plea alleging that the CBI was not proceeding against them despite having sufficient evidence that they helped Jaganmohan accumulate massive illegal assets.

A bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued the notices to the CBI, ministers and the IAS officers and sought their stands on the petition filed by an advocate, Sudhakar Reddy.

The CBI had already arrested Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, former excise minister who held Infrastructure and ports portfolio in Rajasekhara Reddy Government in connection with the Jaganmohan’s alleged disproportionate assets case. The CBI said it would examine Sabitha Reddy in connection with the GOs related to Bharathi Cements and others.