No narco test on Jagan: Court

The CBI special court on Monday rejected a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct narco-analysis, brain mapping and other tests on jailed YSR Congress party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, and his advisor V Vijay Sai Reddy.

The court said such tests should not be permitted without the consent of the accused as per the Supreme Court’s judgment. The CBI sought the courts permission by arguing that both the accused did not cooperate with the investigation in the Disproportionate Assets case against Jagan. The CBI also challenged them to give consent for the test to prove their innocence. It offered to admit low dosage of drugs for the narco test to avoid any harmful effect.

Jagan’s counsels contended that there was no question of giving consent to probe their client as CBI has gathered all details from them  and there is nothing else to question under the influence of narcotics.

Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) has permitted Jaganmohan to exercise his vote in the Presidential election in Hyderabad. Jagan urged the EC to give him the permission to exercise his constitutional right to vote in the Presidential election in Hyderabad. Jagan is currently jailed in Chanchalguda Central Prison.

The request was made under Rule 7 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974 which permits electors not present in New Delhi to vote from any of the polling places in the states. Three other MPs got similar permissions due to different reasons.

The YSR Congress is yet to take a call on whether to support UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee or PA Sangma, the NDA candidate. It is learnt that Jagan’s mother would take a decision on the matter by July 18.