)| CBI Double Standards Exposed: YSRCP

Faulting the "double standards" of the CBI, the YSR Congress has said the investigation agency has being carrying out a protracted investigation in Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's case while it has "sidestepped even a formal enquiry" on former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the Emaar case vis-à-vis the discharge petition filed by Koneru Rajendra Prasad.

"It was Chandarababu Naidu who issued the GO in favour of Emaar, and Koneru Rajendra Prasad was the mediator between Chandrababu and Emaar. Rajendra Prasad, in his petition, told the court that Chandrababu was the key person in Emaar case," party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu told reporters on Friday.

"I was summoned by the CBI, in the capacity of former chairman of APIIC, and I told them about the involvement of the then Chief Minister Chandrababu in the Emaar properties case," he said.

"It was during the TDP's rule that 535 acres of prime land in the heart of the city was given at a throw-away price of Rs. 29 lakh per acre for building luxury villas, golf courses, a convention centre and other such facilities to Emaar Properties," he said.

"Naidu sold the adjacent land belonging to his wife at Rs. 1 core per acre, much earlier to the Emaar contract, which clearly establishes that his decision has cost the exchequer a fortune," he said.

"There were irregularities even in the bidding process, and in the exercise of short-listing. It was managed in such a manner that Emaar was the sole bidder available to sign the contract," he said.

He added, "When things were so clear, and our Party has been very vocal about it, the CBI has developed cold feet, and did not even question the former chief minister."

"On the contrary, when it came to Jagan's case, it acted in a tearing hurry, and could not prove even a single charge. It had to scale down the quantum of misappropriation of public money it has quoted, manifold. This clearly establishes the duality of the CBI's functioning," he said.

"For all its omissions and commissions, TDP will lose the elections in 2014 for the third consecutive time, and its chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu will have to virtually shut shop," he stated.

"Chandrababu himself admitted with his party cadres that if they don't win the next elections, the TDP will have to shut down," he said.

He rubbished rumours that YSRCP leaders have been questioning courts.

"We have utmost respect for judiciary, and have made it clear on many occasions," he said. (INN)