HYDERABAD: The CBI Special Court found no basis to give anticipatory bail to Jagan Mohan Reddy Thursday, dismissing his apprehension of an arrest by the CBI as due to wrong advice by his aides or “a fear complex or phobia.”Principal special judge A Pullaiah thus struck down an interim anticipatory bail petition moved by the Kadapa MP on the eve of his interrogation by the CBI. However, another bail petition filed by Jagan will be heard on May 28, the day he is due to make his first appearance in court in the illegal assets case against him.The judge said the CBI has only served notice on Jagan to be available for questioning in order to ascertain some facts and circumstances rather than for the purpose of investigation. “Since the entire investigation has been completed and a chargesheet has been filed, the question of further investigation does not arise. Therefore, after conclusion of the investigation, the CBI may not arrest Jagan Mohan Reddy unless for other reasons like if he refuses to go to the CBI office as directed or fails to cooperate with the agency,’’ the judge said.He said interim anticipatory bail cannot be granted simply because Jagan is an MP and is engaged in canvassing for his party’s candidates in the byelections. “In this case, the entire investigation has been completed, the chargesheet has been filed and the court has taken cognizance of the offence and issued summons to the accused to appear in court on May 28. Therefore, at this juncture any apprehension of an arrest is only due to a fear complex or phobia perhaps out of the ill-advice of his companions,’’ the judge remarked.He further pointed out that if the CBI had any intention of arresting Jagan, it need not have issued him a notice. It could have done so at any time during the investigation and prior to filing the chargesheet.“For reasons known only to them, the CBI chose not to arrest Jagan Mohan Reddy for seven months. Having done so, it may not arrest him, particularly after issue of summons by the court. So if he is enlarged on interim anticipatory bail now, he may exhibit a hostile attitude to the CBI and refuse even to appear before the agency on May 25 and refuse to answer their questions,’’ the judge said in his order.Earlier, Jagan’s counsel Sushil Kumar informed the court that the CBI issued the notice only with a view to arresting him and there was mischief behind it all.The CBI said important aspects of the case have come to its notice since the arrest of investor Nimmagadda Prasad, bureaucrat K V Brahmananda Reddy and the questioning of minister Mopidevi Venkataramana and it only wanted to confront Jagan Mohan Reddy on those issues.
Comments
0 comment