Jagan case: CBI names Andhra minister in 4th chargesheet

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the corruption charges against YSR Congress Chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, on Monday filed its fourth chargesheet in the case against 14 people, naming Andhra Pradesh Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and two senior Indian Administrative Service officers – Manmohan Singh and M Samuel, besides the Kadapa MP.

The 177-page chargesheet citing around 280 documents besides statements of witnesses was filed in the court of the principal special judge for CBI cases in Hyderabad.

It pertains to VANPIC project, whose promoter (industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad), allegedly invested Rs 854 crore in the companies belonging to Jagan towards a largesses for which the then Andhra Pradesh government, led by late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, doled out many favours in the form of awarding the project.

The chargesheet also names Jagan's financial advisor V Vijay Sai Reddy, followed by Nimmagadda Prasad alias Matrix Prasad, former minister Mopidevi Venkatramana Rao, senior bureaucrat K V Brahmananda Reddy (presently under judicial custody), Nimmagadda Prakash, Vanpic Projects Pvt Ltd, Jagati Publications Pvt Ltd, Raghuram Cement Corporation Pvt Ltd and Bharati Cement Corporation Pvt Ltd, Carmel Asia Holdings Pvt Ltd and Silicon Builders Pvt Ltd for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and other relevant sections of IPC and other provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The central probe agency had earlier contended that various "undue" concessions were extended to the proposed development of an integrated port and industrial corridor project-Vadarevu and Nizampatnam port and Industrial Corridor project (VANPIC, in which Prasad was a promoter) in Prakasam and Guntur districts.

Bramhananda and Prasad were arrested on May 15 by the CBI while former excise minister Mopidevi, who was arrested on May 24, is accused of approving the cabinet memorandum containing proposals for awarding of VANPIC project by withholding many important aspects related to it, such as total extent of land decided for the project during 2008.