SC raps CBI over delay in Jagan’s cases

The Supreme Court bench led by Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Deepankar Datta came down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigation over the inordinate delay in completing the inquiries into the disproportionate assets cases of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Two separate petitions filed by rebel YSRCP MP Raghurama Krishna Raju to immediately cancel the bail of Jagan Mohan Reddy and also to transfer his cases out of the jurisdiction of Telugu States came up for hearing today in the Supreme Court.

The apex court rapped the CBI for not making any significant headway in its investigation relating to this case and also questioned what is the reason for such a long delay. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who is representing the CBI answered that the investigation department is not responsible for the delay. The judges asked who was responsible if it was not the CBI.

Jagan’s lawyer asked the top court to kindly look into the guidelines issued by the Telangana High Court to expedite the petitions filed against representatives of the people in the country. They further pleaded for three more months to complete the inquiries into these petitions.

The lawyer further informed the SC that Raghuram Krishnam Raju filed petitions against his client only with a malafide intention as the ruling government in Andhra Pradesh filed cases on him for his anti-party activities.

Reacting to the statements of Jagan’s lawyer, Justice Sanjeev Khanna replied that the court is not concerned with the political affairs of individuals, but will look only into the legal matters of the case. The court further questioned the reasons for not disposing of a single discharge petition pertaining to this case.

The next hearing of both these petitions has been postponed to April.