Jagan case: CBI opposes Govt move to shift legal team

The CBI has objected to the government's move to replace its team of lawyers representing it in the disproportionate assets case against the jailed YSR Congress Party chief, YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

The CBI has objected to the government's move to replace its team of lawyers representing it in the disproportionate assets case against the jailed YSR Congress Party chief, YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

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The CBI has conveyed to the law ministry that it would like to retain senior lawyer Ashok Bhan along with additional solicitor general (ASG) Harin Raval for Friday's hearing in the Supreme Court, HT has learnt.

The ministry had requested the CBI to allow it to depute another ASG in place of Bhan and Raval to appear in the case. No reason, however, was given for changing the government's legal team at this juncture.

The SC will resume hearing on the bail plea filed by Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of former AP CM the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy. CBI has been represented in this case by Bhan and Raval in the Andhra Pradesh high court and a special court.

"The case has been marked to another law officer, but there is nothing unusual in it. There is a practice to allow law officers to appear according to their availability," said an official.

The CBI, however, did not seem to be convinced with the ministry's argument that the case has been transferred to a different government lawyer in a routine manner.