Big Blow: CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to appear in CBI court every Friday

In a big blow to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, a special CBI court in Hyderabad on Friday dismissed his petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in the 2011 disproportionate assets case. He now has to attend court every Friday and stand trial. The disproportionate assets case is related to the alleged quid pro quo investments into Jagan Mohan Reddy's firms by various companies when his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy was CM of Andhra Pradesh (united) between 2004 and 2009.

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Citing constitutional obligation

In September, four months after becoming the Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy filed a petition that he would be unable to attend the weekly court hearings owing to his new constitutional obligation and his counsel would represent him on his behalf. Jagan's counsel told the court that if the Chief Minister travels to Hyderabad in Telangana from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh to attend the special court hearings for one day, his security and protocol will cost up to Rs 60 lakh. The CBI has filed 11 chargesheets, besides the supplementary charge sheet in the case. 

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CBI's counter

The Central Bureau of Investigation, last month, submitted a counter-argument that Reddy, in his capacity as the Chief Minister, will be able to influence victims with his muscle, money and political might. The counsel for CBI submitted that it was almost six years from the date of filing of the last chargesheet in the case but the trial proceedings are yet to begin. This, the CBI stated, was an indication that the accused has been able to procrastinate the proceedings on one pretext or other.

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Go to the Apex court

Reminding the High Court rejection of Jagan’s plea seeking the exemption of personal appearance, the counsel argued that Jagan has to file the case before the Supreme Court and not before the CBI court. Jaganmohan Reddy's counsel objected to the CBI's strong words and mentioned that his client was demanding exemption from personal attendance only in the larger interests of the people of Andhra Pradesh and not for the personal benefit of Jagan himself. The lawyer also countered in the court that there were no allegations in the last six years that Jagan had influenced the witnesses. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the special CBI court judge declared that the accused has to be present in the court during the hearings.

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