Jagan Plea For Exemption From Appearance: Ruling On 23rd

The CBI court posted the delivery of the verdict on YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's petition seeking exemption from appearing before the court every Friday, for October 23.

The counsels of both Jagan and the CBI made their arguments before the court. The CBI argued that Jagan was a culprit in 11 cases and could not be exempted from appearing before the court every Friday as the trial was at an important stage. It pointed out the High Court's direction that the trial be completed in a speedy manner. The accused could seek exemption from attending the court personally for one or two weeks with justified reasons, but not for six long months for political reasons, he argues.

Jagan's advocate argued that Jagan was a full-time politician and not a businessman, and needed to go to the people to wage movements on public issues. Jagan had contemplated taking up a 3,000 km padayatra for six months to fight for the people, and the seriousness would come down if Jagan attended court every Friday pulling out of the padayatra, which was the reason he was seeking exemption, the counsel argued.

It may be recalled that Jagan has decided to take up a padayatra from Idupulapaya in Kadapa district to Ichapuram, from November 2. The padayatra will go on through 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh.