CBI grills Geetha

Created On: 29 Aug 2013 12:41 PM IST

The CBI sleuths grilled State Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy in connection with the land allotment to Lepakshi Knowledge Hub ( LKH) in Anantapur district and disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the first time on Tuesday night.

Questions her on Lepakshi Hub and Jagan cases

Hyderabad: The CBI sleuths grilled State Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy in connection with the land allotment to Lepakshi Knowledge Hub ( LKH) in Anantapur district and disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the first time on Tuesday night. The senior Cabinet Minister was questioned for two hours at her residence by a team of CBI officials. Sources said that the officials enquired the Minister on what grounds she allotted land to the LKH and also questioned whether she was influenced by any persons in the Government or outside before allotting the land to the company.

Government allotted 8,848 acres of land when Geeta was holding the same portfolio in the government of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, father of Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been in jail since May last year. LKH had signed a MoU with the Industries Department in February 2009 for setting up a Global Knowledge Hub by providing integrated infrastructure support to a range of activities, including education clusters, science and technology parks, medical, aviation and aerospace and IT parks.

It is one of the several alleged quid-pro-quo deals being probed by the CBI, which has alleged that Jagan conspired with his father to dole out favours to certain firms and individuals which invested money in his businesses. Geetha Reddy is the fifth minister questioned by the CBI in connection with different aspects of the case. The others are Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Mopidevi Venkataramana, Sabitha Indra Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao.