CBI grills Mopidevi for four hours

                                                            
Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday grilled Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and a senior IAS officer, Manmohan Singh, in connection with the disproportionate assets case of YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy.

The two figured in the list of six ministers and eight IAS officials who were issued notices by the Supreme Court on March 12 which wanted to know why their role in the issuance of 26 government orders should not be probed.

Mopidevi was Minister for Infrastructure and Investment during the regime of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy when several GOs were issued allegedly for the benefit of Jagan.

The minister has been in the eye of storm following allegations of receiving monetary gratifications from liquor syndicates. Questioning the minister at this point assumed significance as the CBI is left with hardly two weeks time to file charge sheet in Jagan’s case.

Mopidevi arrived at Dilkusha Guest House at 2.30 pm and was questioned by the CBI for a little over four hours. According to sources, he was asked about the GOs 29, 30 and 31 issued during the YSR regime.

The GOs relate to the exemption from Stamps and Registration Act given to Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Port and Industrial Corridor (Vanpic), land acquisition and other benefits extended to the company promoted by Nimmagadda Prasad.

Jagan case

The Minister's examination, though as a witness, assumes significance as the CBI has to file its charge-sheet in the court against Mr. Jagan in the disproportionate assets case before April 2, according to the law.

It set off speculation about the CBI's next move against the MP.

Two senior IAS officers -- former Principal Secretary, Infrastructure and Investment, Manmohan Singh and Special Secretary Brahmananda Reddy were also questioned for over two hours at the Dilkusha Guest House, temporary office of CBI's special investigation team.

Dr. Manmohan Singh was present along with Mr. Venkata Ramana, between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. and after he left, it took the Minister two more hours to finally leave the Guest House.

VANPIC project envisages developing the two ports, an airport near Ongole, six industrial parks and two power plants, for which an estimated 15,000 acres was required. While about 5,404 acres was allocated in Guntur, 6,406 acres was given away for the project in Prakasam district for the purpose. Over a dozen GOs were issued for the purpose, waiving stamp duty and registration fee, extending subsidies like those offered to Special Economic Zones and draft declaration for land acquisition.

As he was leaving the guest house, the Minister told waiting presspersons that he was called in as a witness to testify on the procedures followed in issuing the GOs. Asked if he was likely to be called again for examining, Mr. Venkata Ramana said that, as a law-abiding citizen and responsible Minister, he would cooperate with the investigation whenever he was asked for details.