With the CBI special court in Hyderabad on Monday issuing summons to YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in connection with his alleged disproportionate assets case, the focus is now on whether or not the Kadapa MP would be arrested before the commencement of trial.
The CBI has so far filed three chargesheets in the special court in connection with the case, naming Jagan as accused no. 1, and the court took cognizance of the first chargesheet to issue summons to Jagan, asking him to appear personally before the court on May 28.
"That the court has taken cognizance of the chargesheet indicates that the trial into the charges framed against Jagan by the CBI has commenced. And when Jagan appears before the court, he will be provided with a copy of the chargesheet and asked whether he would agree with the charges framed by the CBI. Since he will naturally reject the charges, the court will begin the trial," CBI sources said.
According to the sources, once the trial commences, the CBI would make a request to the court seeking permission to take Jagan into custody and question him. If the court grants permission, the arrest of Jagan would be imminent, sources said.
Interestingly, the CBI special court as well as the high court, while granting bail to Jagan's personal auditor V Vijay Sai Reddy, the accused no. 2 in the case, observed that there was no point in denying bail to the accused no. 2, when the main accused -- Jagan -- was free. The special court sought to know why the CBI was not able to arrest the other accused and whether the agency lacked enough evidence in the case.
"The same question might come up when Jagan appears before the court on May 28. And if the court orders the arrest of Jagan, the CBI's job would become easier," sources said.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress party sources said Jagan would appear before the court on May 28, though initially there were suggestions that he could challenge the summons in the high court on the ground that the CBI could not come out with any evidence to establish the charges against him.
"The court has issued summons to Jagan to personally take the copy of the chargesheet. It does not mean he is guilty. He will definitely go to the court," party spokesman Jupudi Prabhakar Rao said.
Party sources said after obtaining the copy of the chargesheet, Jagan could file a petition in the special court, asking himself to be discharged from the case. He might also move the high court with a quash petition, asking that the case be dismissed as there was no case made out against him.
The YSR Congress party is also contemplating exploiting the latest developments to gain political mileage in the by-elections to 18 assembly seat and one Lok Sabha seat scheduled to be held on June 12.
"The court summons have come at a time when the electioneering for the by-elections has just commenced. And, by the time Jagan appears before the court on May 28, the campaign will reach a feverish pitch. We don't think Jagan will be arrested when he appears before the court, but if it really happens, there will be turmoil in the state and there would be a tremendous sympathy for Jagan. It would ultimately help the party candidates to win the elections," Rao said.
YSR Congress party leaders are planning to mobilize huge crowds to the court on May 28 when Jagan appears before the magistrate, so that there would be big trouble in the city in the event of his arrest.
from India Today
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