Jagan Mohan Reddy appears before CBI court in assets case

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy appeared before a CBI Special Court in Nampally on Thursday in connection with the disproportionate assets case. This was his first physical appearance in court after nearly six years, as he had been seeking exemptions from the court quite regularly for personal appearances. Even this time, he had sought personal exemption, but the CBI had objected and sought the court’s direction to ensure his appearance. The court had set 21 November as a deadline, but Reddy chose to appear a day before. However, the TDP criticised him, accusing him of mobilising a crowd to avoid future appearances in court.

Reddy arrived in Hyderabad in a special aircraft from Vijayawada as a large crowd of supporters gathered at the Begumpet Airport to welcome him. Even on the court premises in Nampally, enthusiastic supporters gathered around him as he alighted from the vehicle in a show of solidarity. Police had imposed traffic restrictions around the area for his court appearance.

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TDP Polit Bureau Varla Ramaiah criticised Reddy, pointing out that he was an accused, involved in multiple financial cases across both Telugu states. He said, “In every case, he is accused number one. These are no ordinary cases. These are cases which have no other comparison in India.” He also slammed the former chief minister, saying that the crowd that had gathered at the airport and the court premises was a paid one, deliberately mobilised to ensure he could escape future appearances, citing law and order issues.

Reddy has been out on bail since 2013. The quid pro quo cases against him are related to his father’s (YS Rajasekhar Reddy) tenure as chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, from 2004 till 2010. He had last appeared in the court in January 2020, when he was already the chief minister.