ED pushes for speedy trial in Jagan quid pro quo case

In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing several cases under PMLA in which Andhra Pradesh former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family members are involved, has intensified the proceedings in the cases.

Days after the ED served notices to Kadapa MP Y S Avinash Reddy asking to appear before the agency for questioning in an alleged hawala cash transactions in murder of former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, the ED officials sought speedy trial process and day to day appearance of Jagan Mohan Reddy and other accused in connection with the quid pro quo case which was registered a decade ago.

The agency officials filed a fresh petition before the Telangana High Court seeking directions to the AP former chief minister to attend day-to-day proceedings and speedy trial process in the sensational quid pro quo case. The ED said the Supreme Court observed that economic offences constitute a class apart and need to be dealt with a different approach.

Based on the FIRs registered by the CBI more than 10 years ago, the ED officials initiated action against Jagan Mohan Reddy and 73 others for investigating government favours to large corporate and individuals and receipt of huge investments into the companies of Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family members as part of quid pro quo arrangements for the favours extended by the Andhra Pradesh government when YS Rajasekhar Reddy was chief minister.

The ED officials found that huge investments were made by companies and individuals such as Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, Hetero Drugs Ltd, Indu Projects Ltd, Indu Techzone Pvt Ltd, Lepakshi Knowledge Hub Pvt Ltd, VANPIC Projects Pvt Ltd, The India Cements Ltd, through subscription of shares at exorbitant rates into the companies such as Bharathi Cement Corporation Ltd, Jagati Publication Ltd, Janani Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, related to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family members.

In the latest development, the ED, through the right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution, approached the court of law seeking to direct the criminal justice system to ensure that proceedings are conducted with reasonable expediency.

The proceedings have remained pending in Jagan Mohan Reddy case nearly 10 years and the chronology of the proceedings itself demonstrates the absence of reasonable expedition in the prosecution of the matter.

According to ED, the agency has filed a total nine charge sheets against Jagan Mohan Reddy and others before the CBI court between 2016 and 2021. Cognizance has been taken in all the nine charge sheets and pending for hearing of discharge petitions. The pendency of the discharge petitions has kept the prosecution complaint at a preliminary stage and has consequently delayed further progress of the complaint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mouli Mareedu

Mouli Mareedu