CBI seeks narco test on Jagan, custody extended

The CBI special court here on Monday extended judicial custody of Kadapa MP and YSRC party President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy till June 25 in the disproportionate assets case.  

The CBI which has so far got only seven days to question the MP, filed a petition in the designated court seeking permission to conduct narco analysis test on Jagan and his auditor Vijay Sai Reddy alleging non-cooperation during custody. 

The judge posted the petition for hearing to June 14, even as Jagan’s counsel opposed the CBI move saying that the process had no scientific validity and cited Supreme Court’s observations against such mind-altering tests.

However, a real drama unfolded at the Nampally court house on Monday when a visibly upset Jagan complained to Justice Pulliah that the police had insulted him by bringing him to court in an ordinary police vehicle. “I have Z category security and my life is in peril during transit. Moreover, the court has given me special category (prisoner) status, police should provide me a better vehicle,” said Jagan in a hand written memorandum submitted to the court. The judge then directed police to arrange a special vehicle for Jagan for security reasons. Later, a bullet proof vehicle was arranged to take him back to Chanchalguda jail.

Jagan also told the judge that jail authorities were not permitting his wife, Bharati to meet him. “If they continue to treat me in this manner I would go on an indefinite fast in the jail as I have not committed any crime. I am only an accused and not a convict,” he said. The judge then permitted Bharati and Jagan’s mother Y S Vijayamma to meet Jagan for half an hour. However, the policemen who escorted Jagan to the Nampally Court told media that they have not discriminated against Jagan and it was the same escort van they used to transport other prominent accused persons such as Y Lakhsmi, B P Acharya and Satyam Raju.

In yet another shock to the YSR family a day ahead of crucial bypolls, the Andhra Pradesh government  announced cancellation of a mining lease granted to Jagan’s brother-in-law, Anil Kumar, an evangelist. The deal, signed between the AP Mineral Development Corporation and Rakshana steels, during YSR regime authorised Anil Kumar to mine iron ore over a spread of 1.41 lakh acres in two districts in Telangana region.