Supreme Court seeks CBI's response on Jaganmohan Reddy's bail plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today issued notice to CBI seeking its response on the bail plea of YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy in a disproportionate assets case.

A bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam asked the agency to file its response and posted the case for hearing on May 6.

Jaganmohan has moved the apex court challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court's January 24 order refusing to grant him bail in the case.

Jaganmohan, who was arrested on May 27, last year by CBI on corruption charges, is presently under judicial custody and is lodged at the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.

In October last year, the apex court had dismissed Reddy's bail plea in the case.

While dismissing the bail application, the apex court had said that the petitioner was open to renew his bail before the trial court "on completion of the investigation by CBI" on certain aspects.

CBI had told the court that it would be filing a final charge sheet on Sandur Power, Bharati/Raghuram Cements, Dalmia Cements, India Cements and Kolkata-based suitcase companies allegedly sending money into Reddy's companies including Lepakshi knowledge hub project and Indu Projects.

The agency has filed several charge sheets against Jaganmohan, an MP from Kadapa, and others.

It has accused him and his late father and the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy of hatching a conspiracy to defraud the government. According to it, Jaganmohan allegedly influenced his father in doling out certain favours to various players, who made investments of several crores of rupees into his businesses as a quid pro quo.

Several ministers, who had also served in YSR Reddy's cabinet, and officials are under CBI's scanner for allegedly issuing controversial orders, allotting land, granting mining licences and other favours to various companies promoted by Jaganmohan.