Vijayawada: In a reprieve for AP opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, the CBI is unlikely to transfer the quid pro quo investments and the Obulapuram mining scam case to the Visakhapatnam CBI court.
CBI sources said that as Rayalaseema is still under CBI Hyderabad the question of transferring the case to AP doesn’t arise. Regarding Jagan cases as the alleged offence of issuing GOs to benefit companies that invested in his companies took place at the AP Secretariat in Hyderabad, the cases will be tried in Hyderabad court itself.
A former government functionary, who is also an accused in the case, said that recently the CBI court in Hyderabad had remarked in the OMC case that as the iron ore mine misappropriated was in Anantapur in Rayalaseema why can’t it be transferred there.
When asked about this a CBI source said, “The case has not been transferred to AP. It will be tried in an additional court in Hyderabad. The three courts in Gagan Vihar are being notified area wise and the OMC case will be tried in one of these courts. Visakhapatnam CBI has jurisdiction over Visakhapatnam, Srikak-ulam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Vizianagaram, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore districts of AP. The Hyderabad CBI has jurisdiction over all other districts in AP and TS. So Hyderabad CBI has jurisdiction over Rayalaseema.”
Regarding Jagan cases the source said, “There is no move to transfer Jagan cases to Vizag. The secretariat where the offence took place is in Hyderabad.”
Senior advocate V. Surender Rao who represents OMC said, “Hyderabad CBI court has jurisdiction as the alleged offence took place in Hyderabad. If Rayalaseema falls under CBI Hyderabad then the case must be tried here.” If the CBI wants the case can be transferred to the place where the misappropriation took place.
Mohanbabu may return to Telugu Desam
Actor Mohanbabu’s recent meeting with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Hyde-rabad has led to speculations that he may join the TD soon. The actor, and daughter Manchu Lakshmi, met Mr Naidu, but when asked about his meeting, he said that it was not the right time to speak about the matter. Mohanbabu campaigned for the TD and joined the party in 1982.
