CBI begins searches in illegal assets of YS Jaganmohan Reddy

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered an FIR against YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. CBI conducted searches in five cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai in connection with disproportionate assets case against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

A team of 11 CBI officers started searching at the palatial residence of Jagan at Lotus Pond at Banjara Hills. Simultaneous search was also on at the residence of Prasad in Sainikpuri.

The first search began early in the day at the residence of Acharya in Mahindra Hills here. He was managing director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) when Dubai-based Emaar allegedly committed irregularities in developing a township project here.

CBI also conducted searches at Sakshi News Channel office, Jagan's residence at Banjara hills and his Bharti Cement office in Hyberabad.

Earlier the High Court directed the CBI to undertake a detailed investigation into Jagan's assets.

Prasad of Matrix Lab is one of the investors who pumped in big money in Jagan's businesses allegedly in a quid pro quo arrangement in return for the benefits they received from his father when he was chief minister.

The petitioners, including a minister belonging to Congress party and leaders of opposition Telugu Desam Party, alleged that Jagan amassed huge wealth by misusing power when his father was chief minister from 2004 to 2009.

During the by-polls to Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in May this year, Jagan had declared assets of Rs.365 crore, making him the richest MP in the country. In 2009 elections, he was worth Rs.77 crore.

Textiles Minister P. Shankar Rao, on whose letter last year the court took up hearing, claims Jagan was worth Rs.11 lakh prior to 2004 but now has assets worth Rs.43,000 crore.

The high court last week directed full-fledged probe against him and also in the alleged scam in Emaar project. The CBI earlier conducted preliminary investigations in both the cases and submitted its reports to the court.

Jagan Mohan Reddy meanwhile has approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision and has called it a political witch hunt by the Congress.

Anna Hazares arrest sparks protests in AP state

Anna Hazare’s arrest sparked instant protests across the state. Students and people of all ages and political affiliation came out on the roads to stage protests

against Anna Hazare’s arrest and support the anti-corruption movement.

In Hyderabad, emotionally charged youth, workers of political parties and members of civil society rallied behind Anna Hazare’s movement for a stronger Jan Lok Pal Bill and protested against his arrest by organising rallies, forming `human chains’ and conducting deekshas in the state capital and across the rest of the state.

Youngsters and civil society representatives alike, coming under the banner of `India Against Corruption’, sat on a day-long dharna near Indira Park here demanding a stronger Jan Lok Pal Bill. They also demanded immediate release of Hazare and all his supporters who were arrested in Delhi prior to their fast.

Reject Government’s Lok Pal Bill, Demand Jan Lok Pal Bill,’’ read a slogan as youngsters with banners and slogans rallied near the Dharna Chowk as civil society
representatives sat on a dharna.

“It is time we put an end to corruption. Politicians have been looting the nation since Independence and we won’t allow them to loot public money anymore,’’ said an IT professional.

The youth vented their anger on the government for launching a smear campaign against Anna Hazare and for the swoop-down on his team. “The government has showed that it is corrupt and it does not want to end graft by levelling allegations against Anna Hazare. If Anna Hazare is really corrupt or dishonest, let the government prove it and punish him,’’ another youth said.

The anti-graft volunteers wanted to make the protest non-political and made it clear when BJP senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya visited the venue. He was greeted with slogans of ‘Go Back, Politicians’ forcing him to make a hasty retreat.

Police brought the situation under control.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists formed a human chain at Uppal and blocked traffic there in protest against Hazare’s arrest.“We demand a stronger Lok Pal Bill.

The youth of this nation will go to any extent to oust the corrupt UPA government,’’ ABVP national secretary T Ramakrishna said.

Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP, also staged a protest at the Ambedkar statue. “The sucessive Congress governments have indulged in corruption since Independence.

They have even compromised on the country’s defence by receiving huge kickbacks for purchase of weapons and uniforms for security personnel,’’ Bajrang Dal city president N Vinod alleged, adding that it was a shame that Anna and his team were lodged in the same jail where corrupt ministers and politicians such as A Raja and
Suresh Kalmadi were lodged.