CBI court to devote Fridays to speed up Jaganmohan Reddy investments case

HYDERABAD: A special CBI court decided here today, to devote an entire day on every Friday to speed up the trial in the case of alleged quid pro quo investments involving YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy and others after a direction from the Hyderabad High Court.

On August 10, a Hyderabad High Court bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt, had issued directions while hearing a PIL filed by Y Vedavyas, an advocate from Vijayawada, who urged the court to speed up hearing of cases involving sitting MLAs and MPs under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

"In view of the Hyderabad High Court's directive to the special CBI court to expedite hearing of cases, including resolution of pending discharge petitions of the accused, the court decided that will devote a full day every Friday to deal with the case involving Jagan and others", CBI's senior counsel K Surender told PTI.

CBI, which has filed 11 charge sheets in the case naming several former Andhra Pradesh ministers and bureaucrats, besides industrialists, as accused, in addition to Jagan, filed a copy of the Hyderabad High Court order today before the CBI Special Court seeking speedy trial.

Most of the accused have filed discharge petitions.

Jagan, who is the prime accused in the case, represents Pulivendula assembly seat in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He is also Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly.

The case pertains to alleged investments made by various private firms and individuals to the tune of several crores of rupees in Jagan's businesses as part of a quid pro quo arrangement for various favours bestowed on them during the tenure of his father, the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy who was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009.

CBI has accused Jagan of amassing huge wealth through illegal means by misusing the office of his late father.