AP court dismisses YS Jaganmohan Reddy aide's petition in assets case

A Special Court today dismissed a petition seeking a direction to CBI to restrain from going beyond the prescribed scope of investigations in the alleged disproportionate assets (DA) case against YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and others.

The court for CBI cases dismissed the plea of V Vijay Sai Reddy, Vice-Chairman of Jagati Publications and second accused in the case, as it did not agree with his arguments.

Vijay Sai had requested the court to direct the Central agency to refrain from investigating into the Group firms of Jagan with regard to the transaction and affairs of the companies (and persons) that took place prior to May 2004.

Vijay Sai, also financial advisor of Jagan's Group of companies and family auditor of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had accused CBI of overstepping its brief and going beyond the scope fixed by the AP High Court in its probe against the Kadapa MP.

He had alleged the line of probe adopted and pursued by CBI was far beyond the scope of enquiry permitted by the HC which had directed that the investigation in the DA case cover the period between May 14, 2004 and September 2, 2009.

Vijay Sai had also accused the CBI of "forcing and threatening" witnesses to depose against Jagan.

On August 17, the CBI registered a case against Jagan and several other persons on the instructions of the High Court for offences such as cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust under the IPC, as well as under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the FIR, CBI accused Jagan of "conspiring" with his father and other individuals and companies to "cheat the Government of Andhra Pradesh in the matter of granting certain favours to many companies".