FINALLY, CBI ARRESTS JAGAN :- 28.5.12-TOI

MP To Be Produced In Court Today; Mom, Kin Sit On Dharna, Evicted

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: After three days and more than 24 hours of questioning, the CBI on Sunday evening arrested Jaganmohan Reddy on the charges of having entered into conspiracy, committing fraud, falsifying books of accounts and resorting to corrupt practices. The CBI has been investigating what is called the Jagan assets case for the past few months after a direction from the AP high court. This direction came in response to a PIL filed before the court.
The arrest at 7:20 pm came after Jagan was subjected to questioning for almost 9 hours by the CBI on the third consecutive day at its make-shift office at Dilkusha Guest House next to the Raj Bhavan. CBI sources indicated that Jagan’s replies on the investments into his companies including Jagati Publications were not convincing and that he had continually stonewalled queries. He was also arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, the sources added. Jagan would be produced before the CBI court on Monday where he was any way scheduled to appear as summons had been served on him earlier. The CBI will ask for his custody pleading that Jagan was less than cooperative.
    Immediately after the arrest, Jagan through his aides appealed to his party workers to remain calm even as a state-wide bandh has been called for Monday in protest against the arrest. Jagan told his supporters that the matter would be fought legally and that he was confident of a positive outcome.
CHARGED
IPC Section 120- B | Criminal conspiracy Sec 409 | Criminal breach of trust Sec 477 A | Falsification of accounts Sec 13 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) Sonia responsible for my son’s arrest: Vijayamma
Hyderabad: The city, where prohibitory orders are already in place, was tense but was peaceful. However in some districts in the Andhra and Rayalaseema districts public buses were withdrawn to prevent violence. Cable TV connections were also cut off. But Telangana remained cool to Jagan’s arrest.
    Jagan’s mother Y S Vijayamma – who was allowed to meet her son just as he was arrested – will lead the party and campaign in the June 12 bypolls for 18 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat. Emerging from the guest house after meeting her son, Vijayamma blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the arrest. “All my son did was to embark on Odarpu yatra after the death of his father,” she told reporters. Demanding an explanation from the powers that be, Vijayamma along with other family members and friends of Jagan, including his sister Sharmila and wife Bharati sat on a dharna outside the guest house. They were later arrested after 11pm and forcibly removed and then dropped at their house. CBI sources said Jagan will spend Sunday night at the guest house.
    Other than Jagan, businessman Nimmagadda Prasad and civil servant K V Brahmananda Reddy arraigned under the same charges will also be produced before the court on Monday. CBI sources indicated that the ‘remand report’ of Jagan that has charged him under IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 477 A(falsification of accounts) besides section 13 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). Jagan’s lawyers are likely to seek bail.
    CBI which has already filed three chargesheets against Jagan is likely to file another three in the next few weeks. Jagan’s arrest is however on account of one of the chargesheets that relates to the Vanpic project. CBI’s charge is that over 24,000 acres on AP coast was given as a quid pro quo for investments in Jagan’s media ventures. In the course of the questioning on Sunday, CBI summoned Jagan’s financial advisor and auditor Vijay Sai Reddy – who out on bail – after Jagan said that he had little knowledge of the details of the financial dealings.
    Sources indicated that the Enforcement Department (ED) is also likely to swing into action.
    But it was unclear whether former excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, who is in CBI custody and was admitted to hospital for high blood pressure on Sunday morning, will appear before the CBI court on Monday. By 4 pm, a massive deployment by the authorities across the state made it clear that the arrest was imminent. Security was beefed up in all district headquarters and key aides of Jagan were placed under house arrest. Public transport to and from Jagan’s native district Kadapa was curtailed.