CBI court asks Jagan to appear on Jan 10

January 3, 2020

The CBI special court in Hyderabad on Friday asked YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to personally attend the court proceedings on January 10, in connection with the alleged quid pro quo case.

Jagan has been seeking exemption from personal appearance under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) section 317 every Friday as he had been extremely busy with his official work in the capacity of the chief minister. But the CBI court said the chief minister would have to attend the court next week at any cost.

This is the first time he will be appearing in the court as chief minister. The CBI court, which held in-camera hearing on Friday conveyed to Jagan’s counsel that he had already enjoyed 10 exemptions in a row.

It is learnt Jagan might challenge the CBI court directive in the High Court.

The judge also asked YSR Congress party general secretary and Rajya Sabha member V Vijaya Sai Reddy on January 10 along with Jagan. He is the accused No. 2 in the DA case registered by the CBI in 2011.

Jagan had been attending the court till last year, even when he was undertaking padayatra, except when he was attacked at the Visakhapatnam airport in September 2018 and later during the election campaign.

After taking oath as the chief minister on May 30, he had filed a petition under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) section 205 seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance but, the court rejected it on November 1 last year.

Since then, he has been obtaining exemption from attendance on every adjournment day through a petition under CrPC section 317. He cited the new Constitutional responsibilities on him as chief minister.

January 3, 2020

The CBI Court in Hyderabad has given no respite for AP CM YS Jagan and asked him to appear before the court on Friday without fail. Earlier, Jagan who is A1 in the disproportionate assets case has sought his personal appearance exemption from the court.

The CBI court heard arguments on this for a considerable amount of time and finally did not get convinced with Jagan's advocates arguments. The court opined that the present status of Jagan has nothing to do with accusations in the disproportionate assets case and so he should make his personal presence before the court.

The next hearing of this case is scheduled on January 10th and CBI court has ordered Jagan and A2 in the case, Vijaya Sai Reddy to make their appearance. Probably the CBI court will not further encourage such petitions of Jagan anymore.