CBI court refuses to exempt Jagan Mohan Reddy from appearance

HYDERABAD: In yet another setback to YSRC president and opposition leader in Assembly YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, a CBI court on Monday dismissed his petition seeking exemption from appearance before the court for hearings in an illegal assets case for the next six months in view of his proposed padayatra in the state from November 2.

Jagan must now appear before the special court for hearing every Friday.In August this year, the High Court had set aside the petition filed by Jagan seeking exemption from appearing before the CBI court. While dismissing the petition, the High Court had made it clear that the petitioner could seek permission from the trial court for exemption.

Counsels for the CBI and the ED had strongly opposed the grant of exemption to the petitioner in the CBI court saying the law does not permit non-appearance for six months. At one stage, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that his client has been appearing before the court regularly despite there being a provision not to do so.To which the court remarked: “Don’t appear and see the consequences,” the judge said.

YSRC may boycott Assembly session

Vijayawada: YSRC leaders are planning to boycott the Assembly session beginning November 8 if the party’s demand for the disqualification of all 20 defector MLAs is not met. The party has also sought the removal from Cabinet of all four Ministers who were elected to the Assembly on YSRC tickets. “How can we attend the Session when the CM and Speaker murder democracy by giving MLAs who defected from the YSRC seats beside ruling party Legislators?’’ said a YSRC MLA on Monday. Party leaders claimed the government had convened the Monsoon Session from November 8 to obstruct Jagan’s padayatra. p5