Jagan's Bail Petition Dismissed, Remand Extended

The state High Court, on Wednesday, dismissed the bail plea of YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is the prime accused in the disproportionate assets case.

A bench, headed by Justice Samudrala Govindarajulu of the court, gave its ruling on a day that his judicial custody was extended to 18 July by the CBI special court.

Justice Samudrala Govindarajulu agreed with the CBI's view that Jagan may influence witnesses if released on bail in the case. The CBI counsel Ashok Bhan had opposed the bail petition on the ground that he may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses.

Ashok Bhan argued that the case involved the looting of massive public money, and said that the favours doled out by Jagan's father and then chief minister YSR to companies which invested in his business cost the state exchequer Rs. 43,000 crore.

Bhan said that granting bail to Jagan at this state would hamper CBI investigations.

Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani had argued strongly for the bail, while describing the case against his client as "politically motivated".

Jethmalani alleged that Jagan's arrest was "illegal", and that the CBI's action amounted to contempt of court as he was scheduled to appear in the trial court the next day in response to the court summons.

Jagan, the son of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was arrested by the CBI on 27 May. (INN)