Reacting to a section of the media reporting that he might be arrested on Monday, excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana complained, "You (media) declare me dead and I have to appear before you to tell the world that I am still alive." There was high drama on Monday with the electronic media flashing news that the minister had been called for interrogation and that he might be arrested anytime soon.
Mr Venkata Ramana met Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy in the evening and sought to know his mind on the developments. Mr Venkata Ramana apparently expressed unhappiness over being targeted first in the liquor case and now in the Vanpic deal. The Chief Minister, according to sources, assured the minister that the CBI would not take any extreme steps and was only questioning a few ministers as part of its investigation into the Jagan Mohan Reddy assets case.
Earlier, the minister said it was unfortunate that the media had already fixed an agenda and even the date and venue for the CBI's questioning while in reality the Bureau had not even asked him to appear before it on Monday. Mr Venkata Ramana added that he was prepared to face any probe.