HYDERABAD: Nine hours of questioning by CBI officials produced only proforma lines, crisply delivered, from Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, but the presence of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in the grilling room added a touch of mystery to the day’s proceedings. illegal assets Though there were no concrete indications of what lies in store in the days ahead for the businessman-MP from Kadapa, the participation of ED sleuths in Friday’s Q&A opened up the possibility that the investigators have a surprise up their sleeve.Sources among Jagan supporters said there was worry in the camp that the ED element has been brought in to enable his arrest by that agency rather than the CBI. The Enforcement Directorate’s jurisdiction spans the whole country and it can take its quarry anywhere in the country.One associate of the MP said: ‘’There is a possibility. If the Congress bosses in Delhi intend to keep Jagan away from Andhra Pradesh, they can use the ED, which can arrest him and take him to Tihar.’’However, worry lines weren’t evident on Jagan’s face as he walked into the Dilkusha guest house in the morning for the grilling -- wearing an uneasy smile and greeting officials along the way. He emerged almost nine hours later, sporting a wider grin. He has been asked to come again at 10.30 am Saturday.The sum and substance of his submission on Day One was: ‘’I was not part of the government (of his father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy) and I have no knowledge of the Vanpic deal, leave alone any quid pro quo investments in my media companies.’’As he entered the hall where CBI joint director V V Lakshminarayana and two officials were waiting for him, Jagan greeted the CBI man with a namaste and was made comfortable in the air-conditioned hall. After pleasantries, Lakshminarayana brought out the long questionnare his men had prepared for Jagan.Sources said questions on Day One revolved around the Vanpic project, specifically the allotment of 18,000 acres in Guntur and Prakasam districts to a consortium led by Ras al Khaimah and Nimmagadda Prasad during the chief ministership of Rajasekhara Reddy.Jagan’s replies were stock and crisp: he was not in the government and therefore the question of playing a role in the deal did not arise. As for the investments in his companies, they were business decisions made by astute businessmen.Initially, as the questioned Jagan, Prasad, IRAS officer K V Brahamananda Reddy and minister Mopidevi Venkataramana were being quizzed separately in another room. When they broke for lunch, Congress MP but Jagan groupie Sabbam Hari brought lunch for the MP. During such interludes, Jagan reportedly tried to strike up a conversation with Lakshminarayana, who was in no mood for a chat and stuck to his agenda.Post-lunch, when the questioning commenced again, Prasad, Brahmananda Reddy and Venkataramana were called into the room. After Jagan exchanged hellos with the trio, they were all made to sit round a round table and quizzed together.Though challenged with the testimonies of these three men, Jagan reportedly stuck to his line. At one point, he reportedly ‘’suggested’’ to Lakshminarayana that the CBI might get more information on those deals if it questioned ministers of the time.Sources said the grilling was punctuated with breaks in between to make Jagan feel comfortable. At the end of it, the CBI officials told Jagan, ‘’You will present yourself at 10.30 am tomorrow for more questioning.’’Sources said Jagan was initially reluctant to come and asked if the questioning could not be finished on Friday itself, even if it meant talking into the night.Lakshminarayana, however, said that was not possible and it would have to be Saturday. It is likely Jagan may be asked to come on Sunday as well and Monday too, when he is to appear before the court.Emerging from Dilkusha, Jagan said: ‘’It was very cool and very peaceful. Clarifications were sought and clarifications were given.’’And he said he’d see M/s Lakshminarayana and Co again Saturday. “More clarifications will be sought and more clarifications will be given.’’After he fended off mediapersons outside with a rat-tat-tat series of ‘byes’, he drove to his fabled Lotus Pond residence of 80 rooms and went into a huddle with advisers.
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