HC reserves order to monitor probe

A division bench comprising Justice G. Rohini and Justice P. Naveen Rao of the AP High Court on Monday reserved orders on a PIL seeking the court to monitor the ongoing investigation of the CBI into the illegal investments case of Kadapa MP and YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy.

T. Sriranga Rao, a practicing advocate of the city, had moved the court alleging that the CBI was resorting to selective arrests of accused in the chargesheets filed in the case.

While hearing the case, Justice Rohini asked the petitioner's counsel to explain the reasons for seeking the court to monitor the case, though the CBI has been investigating the case for more than a year and has so far filed as many as five chargesheets in the case.

The judge said that the court would consider passing orders in the case if the petitioner’s counsel could cite the

Defence counsel said the CBI was resorting to selective arrests of those named in chargesheet

court passing orders earlier in such cases.

Gandra Mohan Rao, counsel for the petitioner, cited that the same High Court had monitored the liquor scam probed by the AntiCorruption Bureau. He said the accused involved in this case are ministers, IAS officers and industrialists, some of whom were not named in the chargesheets though they were named in the FIR. The counsel pointed out that the CBI had admitted that the state was not cooperating in the case by way of not parting with information sought by the CBI.

He urged the court to monitor the probe besides restraining the CBI from transferring officers associated with the case till the probe is over.