Jagan's bail petition dismissed

The state High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail plea of YSR Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was prime accused in the disproportionate assets case.

The bench headed by Justice Samudrala Govindarajulu of the court gave its ruling on a day his judicial custody is to be extended by the trial court.

Justice Samudrala Govindarajulu agreed with the view of the CBI 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 looting of massive public money and said the favours doled out by Jagan's father and then chief minister YSR to companies which invested in his business cost the state exchequer of Rs 43,000 crore. Bhan said granting of 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 the CBI 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 May 27.