In a sensational move, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested the excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana for his alleged connection with the disproportionate assets case of YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy. Mopidevi was grilled by the CBI on Tuesday and his arrest was a speculated one by many political analysts in the state. Following the arrest, Mopidevi resigned to his post. In his resignation letter Mopidevi mentioend that he trusted YSR and Congress Party. He mentioned that CBI found fault with GO 29.
The CBI slueths have produced Mopidevi before the CBI Court in Nampally. The court remanded Mopidevi till June 7. The court, however, said CBI can take Mopidevi into custody for 5 days. Notably, CBI mentioned in its custody that Mopidevi misused his ministerial power. They have also mentioned in the petition that Mopidevi didn't support the CBI in the inquiry for the past two days.
Mopidevi Venkata Ramana is one among the six ministers who received notices from the Supreme Court in the alleged involvement in Jagan’s illegal assets case on March 12. Mopidevi was the minister for infrastructure and investment during YS Rajashekara Reddy’s tenure. In connection with 26 government orders, the ministers received notices. It may be noted that CBI, which grilled Mopidevi on Tuesday asked him series of questions before the two accused at Dil Kusha Guest House.
The controversial 26 GOs issued by the then cabinet gave favours to some companies such as Vanpic for the investments the companies made in YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s firms. The CBI questioned whether it was a collective decision of the cabinet or a decision taken to favour someone. The sources said the then YS Rajashekara Reddy’s government allotted 15,000 acres of land to Vanpic as the promoters (Nimmagadda Prasad and party) allegedly agreed to invest Rs. 500 crore in different cases companies run by Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of the then chief minister late YSR.
Notably, after coming out from Dilkusha Guest House on Tuesday, Mopidevi spoke to the media and said he was summoned just as the witness in connection with Vanpic case.
As the minister appeared before the CBI on second day, he was reportedly told by the CBI officials that he was under arrest. The other ministers who also received summons for signing controversial GOs include Sabita Indra Reddy, Kanna Lakshminarayana, J Geeta Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao.
The sources said that Mopidevi received shock when he was said he was under arrest. He presumably thought he would be allowed to go since he apparently revealed everything to the CBI.
Jaganmohan files anticipatory bail:
Moments after Mopidevi arrest news spread in the news, YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy applied for an anticipatory bail suspecting that he would be arrested on May 25 when he appears before CBI for investigation. The counsels of Jaganmohan Reddy told the CBI Special Court that his arrest would obstruct the by-election campaign. They have also reportedly said that Congress was allegedly taking revenge on Jaganmohan Reddy through CBI.
The CBI court has, however, turned down the anticipatory bail plea of Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday.
Who’s next?
Now that Mopidevi is arrested, the speculations are high that Sabita Indra Reddy and other ministers would apparently be arrested one after the other for allegedly signing the controversial GOs. Will the ministers also move for anticipatory bail? We have to wait and watch!
Impact on by-polls?
The Central Bureau of Investigation arresting Mopidevi Venkata Ramana ahead of by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies will apparently not have any negative impact on the elections as people in the state are apparently welcoming CBI’s bold move. Also, the people were said to be discussing among themselves in city buses and near tea shops that the other ministers-who had allegedly signed the controversial GOs-should be arrested.
One has to, however, keep the fingers crossed to know whether the swift action taken by the CBI will really have any impact on by-elections!
It is the first time ever in AP that a minister got arrested.
(Phani)
