Wednesday 9 May 2012

Jagan's party plans to exploit his possible arrest

                                                                 
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

CBI freezes Jagan accounts as he faces arrest in assets case

                                                                         
The CBI on Tuesday tightened the noose around YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy in the illegal assets case as it froze the bank accounts of his three major business houses.

This comes amid the arrest threat which looms over Jagan after the CBI special court in Hyderabad issued summons to him in connection with the alleged disproportionate assets case.

The CBI sent letters to the State Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce to freeze all the accounts of Jagathi Publications, the mediahouse which publishes Telugu daily Sakshi, Indira Television which manages the Sakshi Telugu TV channel and Janani Infra Private Limited, the real estate and infrastructure company owned by Jagan.

The CBI has so far filed three chargesheets in the special court in connection with the disproportionate assets case, naming Jagan as the main accused. The court took cognisance of the first chargesheet to issue summons to Jagan on Tuesday, asking him to appear before the court on May 28.

'That the court has taken cognisance of the charge sheet 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 them, once the trial starts, the CBI would make a request to the court, seeking permission to take Jagan into custody and question him. If the court grants permission, Jagan's arrest would be imminent, they said.

The CBI special court as well as the high court, while granting bail to Jagan's personal auditor V. Vijay Sai Reddy, the other accused 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 court sought to know why the CBI was not able to arrest the other accused and whether the agency lacked enough evidence. 'The same question might come up when Jagan appears on May 28.

And if the court orders Jagan's arrest, the CBI's job would become easier,' sources said. YSR Congress sources said Jagan would appear before on May 28, though initially, there were suggestions he could challenge the summons in the high court on the ground that the CBI did not have any evidence against him.
from Daily Mail

Jagan's Sakshi TV moves court to defreeze accounts

                                                                      
New Delhi: Kadapa MP and YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy's Jagathi publications has moved the CBI court on Wednesday seeking to defreeze their bank accounts. The Court has asked the CBI to file a reply by Thursday.
Earlier, reacting to the CBI's closure of the Current Accounts of the Group's organisations, the Sakshi group called it an attempt to gag the media and free speech. It denied the charge that Saakshi is being used to park ill-gotten wealth.
"Freezing of media company accounts is an attempt to gag the media and free speech. CBI's charge that Sakshi is being used to park ill gotten wealth is false. This act will adversely affect the livelihood of over 20,000 people. The assets case is pending before various courts including the Supreme Court. Sakshi is one of the largest selling newspapers in India with a daily circulation of 14.5 lakhs Sakshi TV is a leading news channel. We request other media organisations to protest this act," it said.
Andhra Pradesh Kiran Reddy said, "the CBI will continue to do its job. Parties or media have got nothing to do with this."
The CBI had on Tuesday approached the banks for freezing the accounts of Jagati Publications and Indira TV, owned by Jaganmohan Reddy. The move by the agency had come a day after a special CBI court in Hyderabad issued summons, directing Jaganmohan to appear before it on May 28 in a disproportionate assets case.
from IBN Live

State government misrule caused bypolls, says Jagan

                                                                        
The YSR Congress president, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleged that the style of functioning of the Congress government cau-sed present bypolls in the state.
Mr Jagan conducted roadshows at Ballaguddam, Kalluhola, Govindawada and Dargah Nannur villages in Bommanahal mandal as part of byelection campaign in Rayadurgam Assembly constituency in Aanantapur district on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jagan alleged that government miserably failed in solving problems of the poor, farmers and labourers and vexed with the style of functioning of government, MLAs in favour of YSR had voted against the government.
The YSR Congress president said as the MLAs were disqualified bypolls were being conducted.
Mr Jagan said that YSR Congress candidate in Rayadurgam Kapu Ramachandra Reddy had resigned for people’s welfare and urged people to vote for him.
He said that the YSR Congress would give importance to BCs and in the next general elections Anantapur and Hindupur Lok Sabha tickets would be given to them.
Mr Jagan urged people not to entertain the Congress and the TD leaders coming with money bags.
from DC

CBI freezes Sakshi a/c

                                                                                           
The CBI on Tuesday froze the accounts of Jagati Publications Ltd, publisher of Sakshi newspaper, Indira Television Ltd that owns Sakshi TV and Janani Infrastructure — firms belonging to Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The CBI superintendent of police H. Venkatesh has written letters to the State Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce ordering the freezing of accounts of the firms.
In the notice sent to SBI’s Banjara Hills branch, the CBI has said that during the course of its investigation it has come to light that Jagati Publications, Janani Infrastructure and Indira Television represented by their director Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others have parked “ill-gotten money received from criminal activities in the account”.
Mr Venkatesh said, “Under the guise of funds for conducting business, the ill-gotten money from various sources is deposited in the bank accounts.” The CBI has asked the banks to intimate the action they have taken and details of the amounts frozen.
Jagati got Rs 1,246 cr from firms
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy owned, Jagati Publication’s current account (30318135971, 30252659825) and Indira Television’s account (30769357760) have been frozen. The notice was issued under Section 102 of the CrPC which empowers police officers to seize any property that creates suspicion of the commission of any offence. The same has to be informed to the magistrate having jurisdiction. The CBI has so far filed three chargesheets in the assets case of Jagan Mohan Reddy in which Jagati Publications represented by Jagan is one of the accused. It is alleged that Jagati Publications got around Rs 1,246 crore from companies which were benefited in various ways by the YSR government.
A case was also booked against Indira TV but a chargesheet is yet to be filed. In the chargesheets already filed, the CBI has explained the flow of funds from ERES and TWC of the Ramky group into Jagati Publications. The CBI has alleged that Rs 9.99 crore has been invested in Jagati by ERES and TWC as a return for favours granted to it by the then government.
From DC

Sureedu testifies against Jagan

                                                                             
The CBI has used a major weapon in its armoury in its investigation into the Jagan assets and Emaar scam cases. Sureedu, alias Suryanarayana Reddy, personal assistant and shadow of former CM Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, has given a statement to the CBI against Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in the assets case, and Mr Jagan’s aide Sunil Reddy and others in the Emaar scam case.
The CBI has sought the permission of the special court to record the witness statement of Sureedu under Section 164 CrPC in the Jagan case. (A statement under Section 164 CrPC is made in front of a magistrate; this is admissible as evidence in court and retracting it attracts perjury).
In the Emaar case Sureedu has already given a statement to the CBI under Section 161 CrPC (which is not admissible as evidence) that Sunil Reddy used to get money from Koneru Prasad. He also revealed details of the meeting of Emaar Properties Dubai authorities with YSR. Sureedu was present round the clock with YSR and knew all details of the transactions, the CBI contends. The CBI took Sureedu into confidence as he was present at every meeting that took place.
A CBI source said, “He was aware of all the people who met YSR secretly. He also knew the movements of Jagan and his activities as he used to stay in the house.” Interestingly Sureedu was trying for a PG medical seat for his daughter under the Chief Minister’s quota.
A source said, “Sureedu’s daughter got an MBBS seat through YSR from the CM’s quota. (Medical colleges give 10 to 12 seats under the CM’s quota.) His daughter completed MBBS and wanted to complete her PG. Sureedu requested several politicians including health minister D.L. Ravindra Reddy for a seat. He met N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on several occasions regarding the seat.” However, the Jagan camp called it a bluff and said that the “suspicious activities” of Sureedu after YSR’s death came to the notice of Jagan due to which he was kept away.
From DC

CBI move a prelude to attach Jagan's assets?

                                                                              
HYDERABAD: Tightening its noose around Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s neck, the CBI on Tuesday reportedly froze the bank accounts of his three companies - Jagathi Publications Pvt Limited, which publishes Saakshi Telugu newspaper, Indira TV, promoter of Saakshi TV, and Janani Infrastructure Ltd, which owns the premises used by both Jagathi Publications and Indira Television.
The charge against the three companies is that huge amounts of money were invested in them in a quid-pro-quo gesture for the benefits extended by the MP’s father, late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, when he was chief minister.
The freezing of accounts comes in the backdrop of the CBI filing its third chargesheet in which it once again named Jagan Mohan Reddy as Accused No. 1.
The companies have bank accounts in the SBI and the Oriental Bank of Commerce.The CBI, it is understood, had written to the bank authorities to freeze the accounts of the companies under Seciton 102 of CrPC. Accordingly, the banks froze the accounts, sources said.
The CBI is of the view that the investments into the firms owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy flowed through these accounts and initiated the action in case it goes for attachment of properties in future.
Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is away in Anantapur campaigning for the byelections, described the freezing of accounts as an act worse than those committed during the emergency days in 70s.
“Unable to face one individual politically, the Congress is resorting to these tactics,” he said, adding: “I had expected the CBI to resort to this kind of tactics.” None could stop Saakshi from functioning. “It appears they (Congress) want no other leader other than them and Chandrababu Naidu to remain,” Jagan said.
The Saakshi group has alleged that the bank accounts were frozen without even serving notices on them. The Congress, in collusion with TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, was trying to muzzle the financial operations of the three companies unmindful of the fact that it might create a problem to over 20,000 employees, Saakshi management said. The newspaper as well as the TV channel would run without any difficulty, the management added. Saakshi managing editor R Dileep Reddy said the freezing of bank accounts was a blow to the freedom of press. In all clashes between the establishment and the media, ultimately press emerged the victor, he said.
From IBN Live

Congress to attack Jagans criminal links

                                                                                                      
HYDERABAD: A majority of the campaign managers of the Congress seem to be veering round to the view that the party should attack the “criminal nature of YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’’ more than his corruption if it is to reap a good harvest of votes in the byelections on June 12.

In the absence of any clear instructions on which aspect of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s public life should be attacked, each leader is talking in terms he thinks fit to diminish the popularity of the Kadapa MP.

Ever since Jagan Mohan Reddy had left the Congress in 2010 and floated his own outfit ahead of the byelections in Kadapa in May 2011,Congress leaders had been maintaining stoic silence on YSR’s scion.

This led to thinking that many of them were not ready to burn their oars by targeting Jagan Mohan Reddy and lose an opportunity to be on his side if he emerged as an alternative to the Congress. Only the likes of Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao were harsh on him. When Jagan Mohan Reddy’s “connection” with Mangali Krishna, an accused in the case of attempt on the life of TDP leader Paritala Ravindra in 2001, became known, Hanumantha Rao was the fisrt to pounce on Jagan  saying that if such leaders were elected, there would only be more bloodshed and gore.

The latest thinking in the Congress is that this line of attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy might yield result because people would not like to support a leader who has a criminal background. “People have reconciled to the fact that leaders of all political parties are corrupt. If you can establish the “criminal” past of Jagan Mohan Reddy, it might jell with people,” one senior leader from Kadapa said.

According to him, there has not been unanimity on what should be said about Jagan Mohan Reddy, Some leaders attack Jagan Mohan Reddy and his father, some attack only Jagan and keep silent on YSR and some attack the Kadapa MP but express their high regard for his father. “This is leading to a situation where we are at a loss to assess how people are receiving us,” he said.

He is of the view that if one harps on Jagan’s corruption, it may be counterproductive since it will bring the late YSR into the picture. ``When you attack Jagan, by implication you are saying that YSR too was corrupt. People are not ready yet to relish if one talks ill of YSR. It is better to go slow on corruption and concentrate on exposing the “criminal nature” of Jagan Mohan Reddy,’’ he said.
from Ibn Live

Jagan in Bellary, meets Suresh Babu

                                                                
BELLARY: YSR Congress president and son of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister late Y S Rajashekara Reddy, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was in Bellary on Tuesday campaigning for his party candidate to Rayadurgam constituency of Anantpur district.
Along with his supporters and Ramachandra Reddy, said to be the YSRC candidate for Rayadurgam constituency, Jagan Reddy visited many villages in the district appealing to people for their support in the upcoming by-election.
Jagan Reddy arrived in Bellary late on Monday and stayed at Ramachandra Reddy’s residence on Siruguppa Road in Bellary.
According to sources, Kampli MLA Suresh Babu met Jagan Reddy on Monday night. The two were said to have had long discussions over campaigns in the coming days, added sources.
Former minister and Bellary Rural MLA Sriramulu who is on a 921-km-long padayatra (rally) had met the regional leaders on his visit to Rayadurgam.
Boyas are the dominant community in Rayadurgam and their vote is crucial.
As Sriramulu belongs to the same community, Jagan Reddy is said to be garnering the support of the Sriramulu camp for his candidate of Rayadurgam constituency.
The by-poll will be held on June 12 , the nomination process for which will get start on May 12.
from Ibn live