Andhra minister appears before CBI in Jagan case

Andhra Pradesh cabinet minister Mopidevi Venkataramana today appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the case relating to alleged illegal assets of YSR Congress party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh cabinet minister Mopidevi Venkataramana on Tuesday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the case relating to alleged illegal assets of YSR Congress party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

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Mopidevi, who currently holds excise portfolio, was minister for infrastructure and investment during the tenure of late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy when several decisions were taken allegedly to favour the latter's son Jaganmohan Reddy.

The CBI officials will question him with regard to certain orders allegedly benefiting companies that in turn invested in Jaganmohan Reddy's business.

Mopidevi is the first minister to appear before CBI in the case.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Manmohan Singh also appeared before CBI. He was secretary, infrastructure and investment, when Mopidevi was the minister.

Mopidevi is one of the six ministers and Manmohan Singh one of the eight IAS officers who were issued notices by the Supreme Court March 12, asking them why their role should not be probed with regard to the 26 government orders issued during the tenure of Rajasekhara Reddy (2004-09).

YSR, as Rajasekhara Reddy was popularly known, died in a helicopter crash in 2009.

The orders allegedly benefited companies in the form of lands and licenses, and they invested huge money in the businesses owned by Jagan under a quid pro quo arrangement.

The CBI had booked a case against Jaganmohan Reddy and 70 others on the direction of the Andhra Pradesh high court.