Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appeared before a special CBI court in Hyderabad on Thursday in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
Amid tight security, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president appeared at the Nampally Criminal Court Complex.
A large number of YSRCP workers and supporters gathered near the court complex to express solidarity with their leader.
The court recorded Jagan Mohan Reddy’s attendance and closed the hearing on his petition. After spending a few minutes in the court complex, he returned to his home at Lotus Pond.
Outside the court complex, he greeted his supporters with folded hands and then left in his car.
Earlier, the former Chief Minister arrived at the city’s Begumpet Airport by a special flight from Vijayawada’s Gannavaram Airport. He was warmly welcomed by hundreds of supporters, who held placards and chanted slogans in support of the YSRCP chief. Jagan Mohan Reddy went to his Lotus Pond home and spent some time there before returning to the court complex.
Police had restricted traffic around the court complex located in the heart of the city.
This was Jagan’s first physical appearance in nearly six years. He last appeared in court on January 10, 2020, when he was Chief Minister.
The YSRCP leader had been seeking exemption from personal appearance, citing his responsibilities as Chief Minister.
Even after losing power last year, he continued to seek exemption from personal appearance. Last month, while allowing him to travel to Europe, the court directed him to appear in person upon his return.
He was directed to appear by November 14 to provide details of his travel and ensure compliance with the conditions of his bail.
When the former Chief Minister filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) objected and asked the court to direct him to appear in person.
The court directed him to appear in person on or before November 21. He decided to appear a day before the deadline.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been on bail in this long-running case since September 2013. The case relates to allegations of financial transactions involving his late father, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, during his tenure as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009.
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) allege that several companies and individuals made substantial investments in Jagan Mohan Reddy’s businesses, including Jagati Publications and Bharati Cements, in exchange for unfair benefits such as land allotments, mining leases, and other approvals from the state government, often at high premiums.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been named as accused number one in the 11 chargesheets filed by the CBI in this case.
Former Andhra CM Jagan appears before CBI court in disproportionate assets case
