Jagan alleges mistreatment, threatens to go on fast

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YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy will remain in jail for two more weeks with a CBI court on Monday extending his judicial remand till June 25 in the illegal assets case even as the agency sought permission to carry out a lie detection test on him.

The court order comes a day before the crucial bypoll to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh for which Jagan's plea to be released on bail for campaign was rejected earlier by the court.

There was also some drama in court after Jagan complained to the judge that the police had insulted him by bringing him to the court in an ordinary police vehicle.

"It is only with an intention to appear before the court, I did not protest or refuse to come in the van though I was aware of the 'mischief' and 'vendetta' being exhibited by the government and authorities," Jagan told the judge.

The arrest of 39-year-old Jagan on May 27 became the dominant issue during campaigning with his mother and YSR Congress party's honorary president Y.S. Vijaya Lakshmi spearheading the canvassing.

The CBI filed a petition before the court of principal judge for CBI cases for carrying out scientific tests (narco and polygraphic examination) on him and another key accused and his financial advisor V. Vijaysai Reddy.

"During the investigation it has emerged Jagan being the main beneficiary of all the ill-gotten money through various dubious methods including suspected hawala method and Vijay as the main kingpin and conspirator with Jagan to have alleged committed the offences," the CBI submitted.

Jagan, who has been sent to CBI custody twice, is the repository of entire information, document and details of alleged hawala transactions and he is keeping all the information close to his chest, the CBI said in its petition.

The agency further submitted that the investigation has revealed a chain of circumstances and multiple conspiracy with various persons, companies in Hyderabad and other parts of India and also foreign countries.

"In order to help and aid proper, just fair and fearless investigation into the matter the CBI seeks indulgence allowing the agency for using scientific ways for deriving information from Jagan and Vijaysai Reddy," CBI Superintendent of police H. Venkatesh said.

"Administering the new scientific techniques does not cause any bodily harm and the information extracted by these methods will be used only for strengthening the investigation and such information may not necessarily be admitted in evidence as the time of trial," the CBI said.

'Why an ordinary vehicle? I have special status'

Jagan was given a bullet-proof vehicle after his complaint was registered with the court.

"I am the president of a party and an MP and this court has given me special category (prisoner) status," said Jagan in a memorandum submitted to the court.

 He also told the judge that his wife was not being allowed to meet him. He said if he was continually treated in this manner, he would go on an indefinite fast in the jail. "I have not committed any crime. I am only an accused and not a convict. My security was seriously compromised with Chenchalguda Jail authorities producing me before the court in a van," he said.

"CBI is saying witnesses are being influenced by me which I have not done even before my arrest (after registration of the case in August last year) and till today.I am not a criminal and provided with ‘Z’ category security but today I was brought in a van to make a spectacle.

"Everybody knows CBI arrested me to stop me from campaign for coming bypolls," he alleged.

Judge A. Pullaiah then directed police to arrange a special vehicle for Jagan on security grounds. Later, a bullet proof vehicle was arranged to take him back to jail.

The court also asked the police and jail authorities to explain by June 14 as to why Jagan was brought to the court in an ordinary van.

 The judge later allowed Jagan's mother Y.S. Vijayamma and wife Bharati to meet him for half an hour in the court premises. Jagan's sister Sharmila and uncle Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy also reached the court to meet him.