CBI opposes Jagan bail, says even PM in dock

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Jagan Mohan Reddy is not entitled to any concession as he is one of 142 MPs who are facing charges and is likely to use his clout to threaten witnesses insisted the CBI, strongly opposing bail to the Kadapa MP in the illegal assets case.

The CBI said Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, as a politician, is not entitled to any concession. In an unintentional reference to corruption charges, the CBI also dragged the Prime Minister into the issue and said, “Even the PM is in the dock.”

Reacting sharply to the CBI contention, the defence counsel dared the investigation agency to arrest the PM as also the 142 MPs. The special court for CBI cases was hearing the bail petition filed by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday. T

he prosecution and the defence counsels had frenzied arguments for nearly two hours. The principal judge of the court, Judge A. Pullaiah, reserved the orders for June 1.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s counsel Ranjit Kumar said the CBI should not have arrested his client without seeking the permission of the court as the chargesheet was taken into cognisance which implies that the accused is in the custody of the court.

Mr Ranjit Kumar said denying bail to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy is denying him a fair trial as he is not in a position to meet his counsel.

Contending that he would be abiding by the conditions laid down by the court, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy sought interim bail till June 10, the last day of campaigning and offered to surrender on June 11.

Judge Pullaiah asked his counsel whether he can campaign during the day and return to the city by night.

“That might be difficult as we might be 50 km away from the city. Moreover, the petitioner is under Z category security,” the counsel said, but agreed to report at the local police station wherever he might stay in the night.

CBI counsel objected saying that it is not permissible by law, besides he is not even a candidate and alternate arrangements have been made, referring to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s mother Vijayalakshmi stepping in for him to campaign in poll-bound constituencies.

Decision on Jagan bail today

YSR Congress party president Y.S. Jagan mohan Reddy on Thursday told the Andhra Pradesh High Court that his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation has the colour of the exercise of power to prevent him from participating in election campaign.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s counsel Ranjit Kumar argued before Justice B. Chandra Kumar that the arrest of his client, after issuance of summons under Section 41 A of the CrPC by the special CBI court after taking cognisance of the chargesheet of the CBI, was illegal.

The judge was hearing Mr Jagan Mohan’s plea to declare his arrest as illegal. Mr Kumar pointed out that the High Court had earlier directed strict compliance with the Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure and it was breached by the CBI.

He said that the order of remand was illegal as the petitioner responded to the notice of appearance as required under the law. He took serious exception to a finding of the CBI court in remanding his client to judicial custody, that the CBI was apprehensive that his client would tamper with evidence and influence witnesses as he is an MP and president of a political party.

Mr Kumar said that the above finding was absolutely baseless as the CBI did not cite any evidence to prove that his client had threatened any witnesses in the past.

The defence counsel said that the apprehension of the CBI is for the future, not for the past. He further urged the court to expunge the findings of the CBI court.

After hearing the arguments till 8 pm, the judge said that the hearing will continue on Friday.