Mopi left to fend for himself

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The state government’s orders on Saturday to provide free legal aid to five out of the six ministers regarding the 26 controversial GOs issued during YSR's regime sparked a fresh controversy as there was no mention initially about providing legal aid to Mr Lakshmaiah and jailed ex-minister Mopidevi Venkataramana in the GO. Both Mr Lakshmaiah and Mr Venkataramana had written to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy earlier requesting for legal aid from the government.

The Chief Minister’s Office later came out with a clarification that there was a “communication gap” regarding giving approval for the file pertaining to Mr Lakshmaiah’s legal assistance and that he too would be extended the same facility. The orders are expected to be released immediately. Official sources said the file pertaining to providing free legal aid to the eight IAS officers is being circulated and is currently with the finance department. The government is likely to extend free legal aid to the IAS officers too after completing the official formalities.

The government is learnt to have omitted the name of Mr Venkataramana from the free legal aid benefit as he is no more in the Cabinet and is in jail in the Vanpic land deals case. The Supreme Court had in March this year issued notices to six ministers and eight IAS officers who had been accused of passing illegal orders to favour Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The ministers and IAS officers had been requesting for legal aid from the government since then, contending that they had done nothing wrong and all the GOs were issued in good faith as per law based on the decisions taken in Cabinet meetings during YSR’s regime.