Dharmana summoned in Vanpic, position weakens

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Taking cognisance of the fourth chargesheet filed in the illegal investments case of Kadapa MP Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy pertaining to the Vanpic case, the CBI court on Thursday issued summons to roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and 13 others, including first accused Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. All 14 accused (individuals/entities) have been asked to appear before the court on September 25.

Mr Prasada Rao, who was then revenue minister, has been questioned by the CBI twice and tendered his resignation on moral grounds. A decision on the resignation had been kept pending, but the summons weaken his position.

Sources said Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was obtaining legal opinion on the resignation, will be compelled to forward the letter to the Governor. Significantly, the court took on record the charges against the minister under the IPC, leaving no choice to the Chief Minister. The also court summoned bureaucrats K.V. Brahman-anda Reddy, Dr Manmohan Singh (principal secretary, animal husbandry) and M. Samuel (chief commissioner, land administration).

Vanpic: All accused in case summoned
With regard to the illegal investments case of Kadapa MP Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy pertaining to the Vanpic case, a CBI court on Thursday also issued summons to Mr Nimmagadda Prakash and the entities Vanpic Projects, Jagati Publications, Raghuram Cement Corporation, Bharathi Cements, Carmel Asia Holdings and Silicon Builders.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, Mr Prasada Rao, Mr M. Venkataramana and Mr Brahmananda Reddy are in judicial custody. Auditor Vijay Sai Reddy, who is on bail, has also been summoned. Apart from the other charges, the 14 accused were booked under IPC Section 120 B for criminal conspiracy.
The CBI had filed the fourth chargesheet on August 13 and had charged the accused mainly under IPC Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 419 (cheating by impersonation) 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), 477 A (falsification of accounts) and also under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.