Justice M. Satyanarayana Murthy of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday rejected YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s plea seeking exemption from appearance in the CBI court in Hyderabad for every date of hearing. Mr. Jagan made this request to enable him to undertake padayatra.
The judge reminded the petitioner that the criminal cases pertain to serious economic offences and such sweeping exemption might not be possible.
The judge was dismissing a batch of criminal revision cases filed by Mr. Jagan.
In 2016, he had filed a criminal revision case challenging the order of the special court of the CBI which said that he should appear on dates fixed for hearing of the case without fail. He may remain absent only under unavoidable circumstances and with the permission of the court. Initially, there were interim orders in the High Court and these were extended from time to time. Now, a similar case was filed by him.
Mr. Jagan told the court that he needs to undertake padayatra to discharge his functions as a people’s representative and president of a political party.
Mr. Jagan is accused in cases of disproportionate assets.
The case of the CBI was that he managed to get favours to several companies and individuals from the government when his father Y. S. Rajaeskhara Reddy was Chief Minister and these persons and companies invested in his companies.
Justice Murthy said that in the name of political activity, the accused cannot seek exemption from appearance in the court.
The trial court has the power to exercise its discretion in such matters and now these orders cannot be found fault with, Justice Murthy said. The court expressed dismay that now the case of padayatra is being pleaded.
He said that every Friday Mr. Jagan can attend the court and continue his activity on the other six days.