Andhra Pradesh Minister for Excise Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao was remanded

                                                                                                                                                         

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Excise Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days after he was arrested and produced before the special court for CBI cases here on Thursday.

The Principal Judge for CBI cases A. Pullaiah also allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to take him into its custody for five days upto May 30 as against seven days requested by the investigating agency. He was charged under sections 120-B, 420, 409, 427-A of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Mr. Mopidevi was arrested earlier at 1.30 p.m. at the Dilkusha Guest House where he had been summoned by the CBI for questioning for the second consecutive day. The Minister is among the accused in the case of illegal assets allegedly amassed by Kadapa MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

The CBI’s case against the him is that he signed the file for irregular allotment of 15,000 acres of land for Vodarevu and Nizampatnam Ports & Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) project in his earlier capacity as the Minister for Infrastructure and Ports in Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar were informed before the Minister was taken into custody.

In the wake of Mr. Mopidevi’s arrest, the Chief Minister has convened an emergency meeting with Ministers available in Hyderabad to discuss the fall-out of the development. Sources said the Chief Minister was not in a hurry to ease out Mr. Mopidevi from the Cabinet, at least not before consulting other Ministers.

There were incidents of violence in Guntur district after the Minister's arrest. Mr. Venkataramana Rao represents Repalle Assembly constituency from where he was elected for the second consecutive term in 2009.

Mobs broke the windshields of an RTC bus, set fire to documents in the municipal office and damaged furniture in Government offices in Repalle town. Police said a group of 300 men led by Mopidevi Harnatha Babu, younger brother of the Minister, led the attacks on government properties. Shops downed their shutters in the town.

At Nizampatnam, the hometown of the Minister, a group of 500-600 men armed with sticks set fire to two RTC buses, attacked the Mandal Development Office and set fire to the furniture. The mob then laid siege to the police station. The station inspector was way away at the time of the attack. The mob frenzy caught the district police by surprise.

Jagan's anticipatory bail plea rejected

Meanwhile, the Judge rejected an ad interim anticipatory bail application of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy who has been summoned by the CBI to appear before it on Friday. Another anticipatory bail application filed by the MP has been posted for filing a counter on May 28.

Mr. Jagan, who was campaigning in the bye-elections to Macherla constituency in Guntur district, cut short his tour and started off for Hyderabad. 

from hindu

As Jagan case builds, minister resigns after being arrested

                                                                           
Guntur: Jaganmohan Reddy, the founder of the YSR Congress, a party he named after his father, has applied for anticipatory bail. His move comes 24 hours ahead of a scheduled interrogation by the CBI in connection with a corruption case - one that could affect not just Mr Reddy's political fortunes, but that of several other leaders from the party he quit in a huff, the Congress.

Mr Reddy is hard at work campaigning in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. When the CBI asked him to make himself available for questioning on Friday, he asked the High Court to defer the appointment to June 15. Till then, he argued, he would be busy with by-elections in 18 constituencies, where his new party hopes to make a considerable impression. The court refused his request. Mr Reddy, perched on a bus during his campaign, said today that the CBI's hurry to question him suggests a political conspiracy orchestrated by parties like the Congress, who hope to push him into jail before the elections are held.

The case against Mr Reddy is picking up speed. Today, a minister named M Venkatramana was arrested after seven hours of interrogation on Wednesday. He resigned soon after from the Congress government. Mr Venkataramana is currently the Prohibition and Excise minister.

In April, the Supreme Court ordered that in addition to Mr Reddy, the CBI must study the actions of six Congress ministers. They allegedly conspired with Mr Reddy's father, YRS, when he was chief minister, to help his son's business empire land huge investments. Companies looking for licences or permits were allegedly leaned upon by YSR and his ministers to fund Mr Reddy's ventures. The CBI contends that in his earlier avatar as Infrastructure Minister, Mr Venkataramana violated guidelines to allot land to industrialists.
from ndtv

I am being targeted, says Jagan Reddy

                                                                            
Hyderabad: The beleaguered Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday alleged that he was being targeted by the ruling Congress in collusion with the Telugu Desam Party and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Talking to reporters, the YSR Congress chief said, “I am being targeted by the ruling Congress, which has colluded with other political parties and the CBI to implicate me in false cases.”

Kadapa MP also reiterated that a conspiracy was being hatched against him by the Congress and his political opponents to isolate him and end his political career.

“The CBI has been working at the behest of the ruling Congress to implicate me in the (disproportionate assets) case from the very beginning," he alleged.

The YSR chief also lamented that he has not got any response from the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh regarding his letter, which he wrote sometimes back, seeking his intervention to save him from the conspiracy hatched by the Congress, TDP and the CBI.

However, he made an earnest appeal to all his supporters to remain quiet and not to react to the alleged harassment of their leader.

“I have got huge support in Andhra Pradesh, where people support me immensely. I want to appeal to them to maintain law and order and not to react to the treatment being meted to me by the Congress government. Our top priority at this juncture is to ensure that by-elections are held as per schedule in the state on June 12 in a free and fair manner.”

When asked to respond on what basis he was making allegations against Congress and the CBI he said, “The way CBI has acted against me, the kind of harassment I have faced and the manner in which a conspiracy is being hatched to send me to jail is enough for me to reach a conclusion that I am being targeted.”

“If by-elections are not held as per schedule, only I will be the biggest loser as my party is fielding candidates for all 18 constituencies which will vote. In that case, they (his political opponents) will be the biggest gainer that is why I want the elections to take place so that everyone will know who has got people’s support. We will win the polls, and that's what the Congress fears," he added.

The reactions from the Kadapa MP came days after he alleged that Congress in collusion with the TDP and the CBI was targeting him and sought Prime Minister’s help in this regard.

The CBI alleges that Jagan was able to build his colossal empire worth Rs 365 crores because of his father’s position as chief minister that helped him to pressure companies to invest in his firms.

However, Jagan refutes such charges and alleges that the Centre has misused CBI against him in the assets case.
from Zee News

YSR brother Vivekananda Reddy quits Congress to join Jagan’s party

                                                                           
HYDERABAD: Languishing in the Congress ever since he had quit the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet and fought on the Congress ticket in the Pulivendula assembly bypoll against YSR's widow Vijayamma a few months ago, former agriculture minister and YSR brother Vivekananda Reddy on Wednesday formally resigned from the ruling party along with his followers amid indications that he will join forces with his nephew and YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy.

Vivekananda Reddy's term as MLC ended in February this year and he was defeated by a huge margin in the Pulivendula bypolls. After this defeat, sources close to Viveka said, he was hopeful of being rewarded for his loyalty to the party with a Rajya Sabha nomination in April this year. However, that did not happen and a bitter Viveka decided to part ways with the ruling party.

Announcing his resignation from the Congress at a media conference in Pulivendula on Wednesday, Viveka said: "I cannot continue in a party which is bent upon tarnishing the image of my elder brother (YSR) and destroying his legacy. It was YSR who brought the Congress to power twice in the state. He also ensured the welfare of the poorest of the poor. I cannot continue in a party that is bent upon defaming my family."

Sources said the last straw was his being ignored in the selection of candidates for the three assembly segments in Kadapa district where bypolls are due to be held on June 12. Irked by the indifferent attitude, Viveka met Jagan two weeks ago and expressed his desire to return to the family fold. The sources said Viveka met Jagan two weeks ago where both uncle and nephew had a detailed discussion and Jagan assured his uncle all support. Viveka is likely to join the YSR Congress very soon and the date for that is to be decided after the conclusion of the bypolls.

From Jagan side, Viveka joining the YSR Congress is being viewed as a win-win proposal as the move would be seen as reunion of the family and benefit the Jagan party in the bypolls, at least in the three assembly segments in Kadapa district.

Vivekananda Reddy was defeated by a huge margin in the Pulivendula bypolls recently. After this defeat, he was hopeful of being rewarded for his loyalty to the party with a Rajya Sabha ticket in April this year. However, that did not happen and a bitter Viveka decided to part ways with the Congress.
from Times Of India

Notices served on Jagan

                                                                                      

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday morning served e notices on Kadapa MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy to appear before it on May 25.

Sources said CBI officials went to the residence of a local leader of the YSR Congress, Thumma Joseph Reddy, at Rentachintala in Guntur district where Mr. Jagan had halted for the night after campaigning.

Soon after the notices were served, Mr. Jagan's aides rushed to Hyderabad with a copy to file a lunch motion petition in the High Court to pray for exemption till June 10.

Sources said the YSR Congress chief got wind of the CBI's move on Monday itself while campaigning in Macherla constituency and was in telephonic consultations with party leaders at Chintala tanda, a tribal hamlet near Vijayapuri south.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal expressed his inability to stop any of the CBI proceedings against Mr. Jagan on the ground that the matter involved a larger issue that had to be dealt with by the Election Commission.

YSRCP plea

Speaking to reporters after YSR Congress leaders submitted a representation seeking his intervention for postponement of Mr. Jagan's appearance before the CBI and its reported move to arrest him, till the close of the by-elections on June 15, he said he would refer the plea to the EC and give his remarks if sought by the EC.

The CEO, however, agreed to ascertain, through the State Level Committee on Media Certification and Monitoring, whether the lead reports which appeared in two Telugu dailies on Tuesday with similar headlines and reports dubbing the late YSR as a criminal, amounted to paid news.

from Hindu

Fear of arrest making Jagan level allegations: Kiran, Botcha

                                                                                  

Congress party on Wednesday lashed out at the YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy for alleging a conspiracy to arrest him and get the by-elections postponed citing violence.

“Jagan is making such allegations fearing arrest. Elections will held as scheduled on June 12. Once election notification is issued, there is no way, it can be postponed,” Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said at a meeting in Tirupati to coincide with the admission of former TDP leader Shankar Reddy into the party. APCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana demanded that Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy withdraw the remarks unconditionally. He told reporters that the onus of proving his innocence in the CBI case rested with Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy and there was no need for Congress to hatch a conspiracy to get him arrested.

Meanwhile, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu mocked at Mr. Jagan's charge of a conspiracy to get him arrested and postpone by-polls, saying only a person with guilty conscience could come up with such a theory.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu said Mr. Jagan should know that law would take its course and throwing mud on others every time law enforcement agencies zeroed in on him would not work. He dismissed the charge that he had met Union Minister Vayalar Ravi as “childish”. He said it was in fact a conspiracy hatched by the Congress and YSRCP.

The nexus between the two parties was glaring going by the weak arguments the government was putting up in courts in Mr. Jagan's cases. This was showing in the court directing de-freezing of the accounts of Sakshi .

In Mr. Jagan's assets case, the accused number one was left out while number 12 was arrested. Former key advisors to the government like K.V. P. Ramachandra Rao and Ministers were spared.

from Hindu

Jagan violating PR Act, says Dharmana

                                                                         

Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and Congress MP Killi Kruparani on Wednesday objected to the comments of YS Jaganmohan Reddy who had feared that violence would erupt if he was arrested by the CBI. Mr. Jagan alleged that Congress and TDP were conspiring to create violence and blame YSR Congress Party.

Referring to Mr.Jagan's statement, they said the government's first and foremost duty was always to ensure law and order irrespective of the outcome of elections.

“Mr.Jagan seemed to be very smart. He hatched a plan with criminal intention and wanted to escape from the blame in case of violence,” said Mr.Prasada Rao.

“We will request the Election Commission of India to take action against Mr.Jagan since he was violating People's Representation Act by making inflammatory statements,” he added.

Dr. Kruparani recalled the statements of YSR Congress leaders Jupudi Prabhakara Rao and Ambati Rambabu who threatened that people would revolt if Jagan was taken into custody.

“Mr.Jagan should prove his innocence if he did not indulge in corrupt activities. He should not think he is above law of the land. Everyone should abide by the court's order and cooperate with the investigating agencies,” she added.

PCC Doctors' Cell Convener Killi Rammohana Rao also participated in the media conference.

from Hindu

YSR Congress, BJP candidates file nominations

                                                                                               

YSR Congress Party leaders Jupudi Prabhakara Rao and Kumbha Ravibabu on Wednesday alleged that the CBI was showing overenthusiasm in dealing cases related to YS Jaganmohan Reddy's properties while ignoring other cases.

They alleged the CBI Joint Director Lakshmi Narayana had not done proper inquiry into the crash of YS Rajasekhar Reddy's helicopter despite doubts over the death of former Chief Minister.

Both the leaders spoke in Satyavaram of Narasannapeta mandal before accompanying YSR Congress nominee Dharmana Krishnadas for filing the nomination in Tehsildar officer. Apart from Krishnadas, his wife Padmapriya and son Ramalinga Naidu filed two sets of nominations. YSR Congress leaders organised a rally to show the strength of the party. The party activists raised slogans in favour of Jaganmohan Reddy.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Sampatirao Tejeswara Rao filed the nomination.

He submitted nomination papers to Ch.Rangaiah, Returning Officer for Narasannapeta constituency. BJP senior leaders T.Durgarao, and Pudi Tirupatirao exuded confidence that the party would prove its strength since many people wanted to vote for the BJP.

from hindu