Jagan assets case: CBI seeks custody of Sabita Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao

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Jagan assets case: CBI seeks custody of Sabita Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao

               



Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh HomeMinister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and YSR Congress chief Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy appeared on Friday before a special CBI court here in connection with a case relating to alleged quid-pro-quo investments in Kadapa MP Jagan's companies.

After the fifth charge sheet was filed by the CBI on April 8 about the role of Dalmia Cements and other firms in the case of alleged quid-pro-quo deals against Jaganmohan and others, the principal special court for CBI cases here on May 14 had issued summons to all the 13 accused, including the then Home Minister Sabitha, Jagan, other individuals and firms, seeking their appearance before it today.

Accordingly, Sabitha Reddy and others accused personally appeared before the court.

Jagan, presently in judicial custody along with his financial advisor V. Vijay Sai Reddy, and lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Prison, was produced before the court by the jail authorities amid tight security.

The court had taken cognisance of charges under the provisions of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act against Sabitha Reddy, who was named as the fourth accused in the latest charge sheet against Jagan and others.

Sabitha Reddy is the third former Minister after Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao and Dharmana Prasada Rao to face charges in Jagan's case.

Mopidevi, an accused in VANPIC episode of Jagan case, is in judicial custody after his arrest by CBI last year.

Sabitha and the then Roads & Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao's resignations were accepted by Governor ESL Narasimhan last month. The fifth charge sheet pertains to alleged investments made by Dalmia Cements and two other cement firms, namely Eeswar Cements and Raghuram Cements, in businesses promoted by Jagan.

Sabitha, who held the Mines and Geology portfolio in the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's Cabinet (during 2004-09), was charged with misuse of office as a public servant in granting limestone mining lease in an extent of 407.05 hectares in Thalamanchipatnam village of Mylavaram mandal, to Dalmia Cements in Kadapa district in 2008 for 30 years.

Dalmia Cements and other cement firms were under CBI scanner for alleged benefits they received in the form of limestone mines in return for investments in Jagan-promoted companies.

CBI has charged these firms with making investments to the tune of several crores in Jagan-owned entities as a quid-pro-quo arrangement.

Others accused in the fifth charge sheet include Jagan himself, his aide Vijay Sai Reddy, Dalmia Cements Managing Director Punit Dalmia, suspended IAS officer Y Srilakshmi and the then Andhra Pradesh Director of Mines V.D. Rajagopal, among others.

In its four charge sheet filed earlier, CBI alleged that Jagan and his father, former AP Chief Minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had hatched a conspiracy to defraud the government.

According to the charge sheets, the state government granted favours to certain firms which made investments at a very high premium in Jagan's businesses as a quid-pro-quo.

Ramky benefited by 914 acres

The Adjudicating Authority said that Ramky Pharma had benefited by about 914 acres when the green belt was reduced in Pharma City.

This is the second ratification that the Adjudicating Authority has issued for attachment of properties in the disproportionate assets case against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In February this year, the Authority had approved another order of the ED for attachment of properties worth Rs 51 crore belonging to Aurobindo Pharma, another of Reddy's companies.

The ED had issued orders for the attachment of more fixed deposits worth Rs 34.66 crore held by Jagati Publications last week, which is yet to be ratified by the Adjudicating Authority.

In January this year, the ED had issued attachment orders for immovable and movable properties owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy valued at Rs 143.74 crore, which included 135.46 acres of land in Ramky Pharma City in Visakhapatnam, deposit of Rs 3.2 crore in mutual funds and Rs 10 crore in fixed deposits in the name of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Jagati Publications.

Highlights

Total attachments in the case against Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is Rs 229.4 crore.

1. Rs 34.66 crore in fixed deposits of Jagati Publications in May 2013.

2. Rs 143.74 crore in Ramky Pharma City and fixed deposits of Jagati Publications in January 2013.

3.Rs 51 crore in assets of Aurobindo Pharma in October 2012.

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