CBI probe is against Jagan, not YSR: DL Ravindra

Health Minister Dr Dl Ravindra Reddy came to the defense of CBI joint director VV Laxminarayana here on Saturday while condemning the statement of former agriculture minister YS Vivekananda Reddy.

Vivekananda Reddy had earlier commented that the CBI joint director Laxminarayana was a corrupt official. The minister took exception to it and made light of Vivekanand Reddy’s comments. Speaking to the media persons, Ravindra Reddy said, “it is meaningless,” to pass such comments against the CBI official.

The Minister said Laxminarayana has been entrusted with the task of probing the most controversial and irregular land allotments to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his associates during the reign of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's regime from 2004 to 2009 on quid pro quo basis due to which the state suffered losses worth crores of rupees.

Ravindra Reddy also asked YS Vivekananda Reddy to make his stand clear on whether he would stay in the Congress or quit the party on the lines of those Congress MLAs who switched loyalties towards YSR Congress party. Stating that Congress party never linked corruption charges to former chief minister YSR, he alleged that YSR family members themselves were bringing disrepute to YSR's image. Stating the CBI probe was not against YSR, he said the probe was against how Jagan misused official position of his father to amass illegal wealth.

The Minister also hailed TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for disclosing his assets as part of maintaining transparency. "It is a good indication," he said.