Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday reportedly assured his ministers allegedly involved in issuing 26 controversial GOs linked to the illegal assets case of Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, that he will try his best to avert further arrests like that of excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana.
The arrest of Mr Venkataramana has unnerved five ministers who may soon be in the firing line: Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, Mr Ponnala Laxmaiah, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao and Mr Kanna Laxminarayana. In an emergency informal Cabinet meeting held at the CM’s residence late on Thursday, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, Ms Geeta Reddy and Mr Ponnala Laxmaiah asked him to take steps to bail them out.
Ministers convey displeasure to CM
Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, Dr J. Geeta Reddy and Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah conveyed their displeasure to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at the propaganda unleashed by both the CBI and media, suggesting that action be taken against them. They asked him to talk to the Congress leadership immediately and ensure CBI does not take such extreme steps. It may be mentioned that Mr Venkataramana, too, had spoken to the Chief Minister on similar lines on Wednesday night. However, he was arrested the next day.
The three ministers pointed out to the Chief Minister that more arrests will not benefit the Congress or the government. “We wished everything will go against Jagan Mohan Reddy only, but it seems in the process the Congress’ prestige is also getting eroded with the arrest of the minister,” they complained. PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana was also present at the meeting where it was decided to extend moral support to Mr Venkataramana.
CBI remand report scares ministers
The CBI’s allegations in the remand report of Mopidevi Venkataramana, the former investment and infrastructure minister, stated that he should be held responsible for the activities in his ministry. The CBI quoted the AP Government Business rules and the Secretariat office manual in Mr Venkataramana’s remand report. This has sent other ministers in the YSR Cabinet, who had issued 26 controversial GOs, into a tizzy. So far, the ministers have been claiming that they only passed the files that were put up by the secretaries (IAS officials).
The CBI has already grilled home minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy and roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao in the case. The investigation agency has prepared notices for IT minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and industries minister J. Geeta Reddy. Minister for agriculture K. Lakshminarayana is also facing allegations.
Ms Indra Reddy was questioned by the CBI in connection with the Penna Cement GOs. Penna had invested in Jagan Mohan Reddy’s firms and the CBI alleged that it is a quid pro quo arrangement. Mr Lakshmaiah approved the files pertaining to the allotment of river water to Penna cements. Meanwhile, Ms Geeta Reddy had signed the GO files pertaining to Brahmani Industries Limited, owned by Gali Janardhan Reddy. Mr Prasada Rao was the minister and was involved in issuing GOs of land allotments.