Jagan loyalist MP Rajamohan Reddy resigns

Congress MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy on Wednesday quit to protest the inclusion of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's name in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) first information report (FIR) against his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

The MP from Nellore submitted his resignation to Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar while another MP from Anakapalli, Sabbam Hari, announced his decision to quit in a few days.

Hari told, this was his last parliament session.

"There is a possibility of another MP submitting his resignation and he has asked me to wait for a week and that is the reason I have not resigned today," Hari said.

Both Rajamohan and Hari are loyal to Jagan, as the president of YSR Congress party and the MP from Kadapa, is popularly known.

Rajamohan resigned two days after 29 state legislators including 26 from the ruling Congress party submitted their resignations to protest what they call the conspiracy to humiliate YSR, as the late chief minister was popularly known.

Rajamohan recalled that after YSR's death in a helicopter crash in 2009, all the MPs and legislators had signed a letter urging the leadership to make Jagan the chief minister but they took a u-turn when the leadership turned down their demand.

The CBI had included YSR's name in the FIR though Andhra Pradesh High Court had not given any such direction, Rajamohan claimed.

The CBI, in its FIR against Jagan and 71 others, said he conspired with YSR to dole out favours to companies which invested in his businesses in a quid-pro-quo arrangement.

Rajamohan termed the CBI probe against Jagan a witch-hunt for leaving Congress party. He also alleged that Congress and the opposition Telugu Desam Party have colluded to target Jagan.

"All these conspiracies will not succeed because Jagan has people's support. They want his leadership," he claimed

CBI raids continue on Jaganmohan Reddy's businesses

For the second consecutive day , the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team conducted searches across Andhra Pradesh on businesses owned by YSR Congress president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy and corporate offices of companies that invested in his firms.

CBI teams had already begun searches or were on their way to various locations in Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Guntur and Khammam districts. In Hyderabad, searches were in progress in seven different locations.

The raids were a consequence of the FIRs the CBI had filed on Wednesday registering cases of criminal conspiracy, cheating, falsification of records and corruption under different sections of the Indian Penal Code against Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy following directions of the Andhra Pradesh High Court last week.

On Thursday, CBI sleuths had searched as many as 91 premises of several companies in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Rajkot that had invested in firms floated by Mr. Reddy. The High Court had found prima facie evidence in the allegations contained in the petitions filed by P. Shankar Rao, a Congress MLA who has since become Minister, and some Telugu Desam leaders that there was a quid pro quo in the form of investments made in Mr. Jagan’s firms for favours doled out by his father, the late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. 

According to CBI sources, among the targets of their searches on Friday were Penna Cements, VANPIC, R. R. Globals, Aurobindo Pharma, Nimmagadda Foundation, Navbharat Ventures, Brahmani Infotech, the Special Economic Zone in Jadcherla where Aurobindo Pharma and Hetero Drugs have offices, Bayyaram iron ore mines,  Bommarillu Developers and Haritha Fertilizers.

CBI begins searches in illegal assets of YS Jaganmohan Reddy

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered an FIR against YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. CBI conducted searches in five cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai in connection with disproportionate assets case against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

A team of 11 CBI officers started searching at the palatial residence of Jagan at Lotus Pond at Banjara Hills. Simultaneous search was also on at the residence of Prasad in Sainikpuri.

The first search began early in the day at the residence of Acharya in Mahindra Hills here. He was managing director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) when Dubai-based Emaar allegedly committed irregularities in developing a township project here.

CBI also conducted searches at Sakshi News Channel office, Jagan's residence at Banjara hills and his Bharti Cement office in Hyberabad.

Earlier the High Court directed the CBI to undertake a detailed investigation into Jagan's assets.

Prasad of Matrix Lab is one of the investors who pumped in big money in Jagan's businesses allegedly in a quid pro quo arrangement in return for the benefits they received from his father when he was chief minister.

The petitioners, including a minister belonging to Congress party and leaders of opposition Telugu Desam Party, alleged that Jagan amassed huge wealth by misusing power when his father was chief minister from 2004 to 2009.

During the by-polls to Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in May this year, Jagan had declared assets of Rs.365 crore, making him the richest MP in the country. In 2009 elections, he was worth Rs.77 crore.

Textiles Minister P. Shankar Rao, on whose letter last year the court took up hearing, claims Jagan was worth Rs.11 lakh prior to 2004 but now has assets worth Rs.43,000 crore.

The high court last week directed full-fledged probe against him and also in the alleged scam in Emaar project. The CBI earlier conducted preliminary investigations in both the cases and submitted its reports to the court.

Jagan Mohan Reddy meanwhile has approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision and has called it a political witch hunt by the Congress.

Andhra: Jagan to move SC today

YSR Congress president and Kadapa Lok Sabha member YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will move the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the High Court order which directed the CBI to investigate his wealth.

According to report, he maintained that there were no irregularities in the investments made into his companies Jagati Publications or Bharati Cements.

“All those who had invested made a lot of money. It was India Cements, Dalmia Cements, his friend N Prasad (Matrix Laboratories) and French cement biggie Vicat who had invested in Bharati Cements and made a lot of money in the bargain,”

He said, substantiating his argument that the investments made in his companies were not a gesture of thanksgiving to YS Rajasekhara Reddy by those who had received government land. “India Cements and Dalmia Cements had invested about 95 crore each and made ut po Rs 150 crore each. Similarly, Prasad had invested Rs 265 crore and made Rs 550 crore.”

Reddy said the direction given by the High Court for a CBI probe into his assets should be viewed as part of the Congress game plan to single him out and tarnish his image. “God is there. He will protect me,” he said.

Jagan said that after he had left the Congress, the party leaders had been trying to isolate him and tarnish his image.