CBI plea to lodge Jagan, aide in separate jails dismissed

A special court in Hyderabad on Monday dismissed a Central Bureau of Investigation plea to lodge YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his auditor Vijay Sai Reddy in separate jails.

Both of them are in Chanchalguda Central prison in connection with cases of alleged quid-pro-quo deals. The investigating agency, through a memo filed in the court, had contended that the judicial remand of Jagan and Sai in the same jail could hamper investigations and that they could hatch conspiracies.

Without naming any jail where either of them could be transferred, the CBI requested the court that it was safe to separate them "as there was danger of their planning to influence witnesses" if accommodated under the same roof.

Objecting to the CBI plea, Sai's counsel told the court that there was no provision in the law under which the CBI's plea could be accepted.

Sai, a close aide of Jagan and also one of his alleged business partners, was arrested by the CBI on January 2, 2012 in connection with the case of alleged quid-pro-quo deals involving Jagan but was granted bail by a court.

The CBI challenged the bail and moved the Supreme Court which on May 9 cancelled Sai's bail and directed him to surrender before a lower court by June 5.

Accordingly, Sai surrendered before CBI court which sent him to judicial custody after which he was shifted to Chanchalguda jail. Jagan has been lodged in Chanchalguda Jail since May 27 last year after his arrest by the CBI on corruption charges.

Both are under judicial custody till July 1. The CBI had earlier alleged that Sai be facilitated transfer of "illegal gratification" money through various companies into Jagati Publications and other business entities of the Kadapa Member of Parliament (Jagan), son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The CBI in its charge sheets filed against Jagan, Sai and other accused said that they hatched a conspiracy to defraud the government.