Hearing on Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy petition in CBI Special Court

Hyderabad : The Special CBI Court on Friday took up the hearing for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in the ongoing proceedings related to the disproportionate assets case filed by the CBI against him. The CM has sought the permission of the court to allow his advocate to represent him in the proceedings as he would be busy in administering the state in his new role as Chief Minister.

The CBI Special Court judge raised the issue about maintainability of this petition given the fact that twice in the past, in 2014 and 2016, similar petitions filed by YS Jagan were dismissed by the same court and the appeals against those orders in the High Court were also dismissed.

Senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy, appearing on behalf of YS Jagan, told the court that the petition in 2016 was moved as Jagan became the leader of the opposition and felt the exemption would help in discharging his responsibilities. But the then judge found the reasons not fit for granting an exemption. The counsel stressed that the then judge did not raise the issue of maintainability because Jagan's earlier petition in 2014 was dismissed. Since Jagan became Chief Minister, it is a new situation and therefore a fresh petition was being moved and this Court has the power to hear and decide the petition.

The Special Court judge, B R Madhusudhan Rao, convinced by the arguments, agreed to hear the petition and fixed September 27th for the hearing. He also granted an exemption for YS Jagan and Vijay Sai Reddy from personal appearance for the next hearing on September 27th.