Court dismisses Jagan’s appeal for a joint trial

IANS/Hyderabad

In a setback to YSR Congress Party leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets case, a court yesterday dismissed his appeal for a joint trial by clubbing together all the charge-sheets.

The special Central Bureau of Investigation court, which had reserved its orders on April 24, dismissed the appeals of both the MP and his auditor Vijay Sai Reddy, who wanted postponement of framing of charges in the case until the completion of the investigation and that the court treat the fifth charge-sheet filed on April 8 as the final charge-sheet.

Jagan, as the MP from Kadapa is popularly known, had opposed separate trial of the charge-sheets filed by the CBI.

Taking objection to the CBI move to file a fifth charge-sheet early this month, the son of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had also said the investigating agency was not following the undertaking its counsel gave to the Supreme Court that a final charge-sheet would be filed with respect to the seven aspects of the case under investigation.

Jagan’s counsel Sushil Kumar argued that CBI was disobeying the Supreme Court order by filing separate charge-sheets to keep his client in jail for an indefinite period with a political motive.

The CBI, however, argued that Jagan and Vijay Sai Reddy misinterpreted the Supreme Court orders of October last year. While opposing the appeals, the agency told the court that the investigations required multiple charge-sheets because it was a planned crime carried over a staggered timeframe.

Additional Solicitor General Ashok Bhan also argued that the offences forming part of the crime were distinct in nature and the accused had to account to law for each offence. He clarified that the Supreme Court never directed the CBI to file one final charge-sheet.

The CBI also hinted it may file one or more charge-sheets with regard to three aspects in which the investigations were completed. It also informed the court that the investigations were progressing in three other aspects.

The investigating agency has charged Jagan with conspiring with his father to receive bribes in the form of investments into his companies from corporate beneficiaries. It claimed that the money reached Jagan through a quid-pro-quo arrangement.