Jagan assets case: CBI summons Andhra IT min Lakshmaiah

Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation to appear before it in Hyderabad in connection with the alleged disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, on June 7.

The central agency is likely to examine Ponnala over the government orders issued during 2004-09 when he was the minister for major irrigation in the cabinet of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, on supply of water from river Krishna to some cement companies, which in turn allegedly made investments in businesses of the Kadapa MP.

Lakshmaiah is among the six Andhra Pradesh ministers who were issued notices by the Supreme Court in March, seeking their stand on the charge about their alleged role in the case against Jagan.

The CBI so far "quizzed" state Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao while it arrested former excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao last month, for his alleged role in the Vanpic project.

The notices were issued on a plea of a Nellore-based advocate, who had said that the CBI did not question the IAS officers and ministers, who were responsible for issuing 26 "controversial" GOs.

Lakshmaiah, who is presently campaigning for the forthcoming by-polls in Parakal in Warangal district said he would appear before the CBI as per the directions, adding, "I worked as per law. I have been asked to come (by CBI) and I will."

The CBI has so far arrested Jagan, his financial advisor V Vijay Sai Reddy (currently out on bail), Mopidevi, noted industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad and senior bureaucrat K V Brahmananda Reddy in the DA case.

While Jagan is in CBI custody, other accused are under judicial remand and are being lodged at the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.

The CBI, in its three chargesheets filed against Jagan and others, alleged Jagan and his father of hatching a conspiracy to defraud the government with Jagan influencing Rajasekhara Reddy in doling out certain favours to various investors, who made investments of several crores into Jagan's businesses (at very high premiums) as a quid-pro-quo arrangement.