Relief for Jagan as court rejects CBI plea to cancel bail

Hyderabad, April 28 (IANS) A special court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by CBI to cancel the bail of YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in an illegal assets case for allegedly violating bail conditions.

The court found no merit in the petition by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which was last month on the ground that Jagan is trying to influence witnesses.

The agency cited an interview given by former Chief Secretary of undivided Andhra Pradesh, Ramakanth Reddy, to 'Sakshi', a Telugu daily and news channel owned by Jagan.

Jagan's counsel, however, argued that there is nothing in the interview which could influence the witnesses. He told the court that seeking cancellation of bail on flimsy grounds is not proper on part of the CBI.

Jagan also submitted to the court that he has no role in running 'Sakshi' media as its policies are decided by the editorial board.

Jagan, currently Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly, was arrested by the CBI in May 2012. He spent 16 months in jail before he was granted bail in September 2013.

The CBI has so far filed 11 chargesheets in the case against Jagan, his aides, former state ministers, IAS officers, corporate entities and businessmen.

The case relates to alleged investments made by private firms and individual investors in Jagan's companies in return for favours they received when his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was Chief Minister between 2004 and 2009.

Meanwhile, the court also permitted Jagan to visit New Zealand. He had sought the court's permission to visit that country for 15 days to spend summer holidays between May 15 and June 15.