The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday arrested Prohibition and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao in connection with the disproportionate assets case of Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy. He is the first minister to be arrested in the case.
The minister was arrested under sections 120-B Read With 420, 409 and 427 (A) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13, 13 (1) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for his alleged role in allotment of a large extent of land to the Vodarevu and Nizampatnam Ports and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) project. He was the Infrastructure and Ports portfolio in YS Rajasekhara Reddy's cabinet when the allotments were made.
Mopidevi was arrested on Thursday afternoon on the second day of questioning by the CBI at Dilkusha Guest House here. After grilling for about two hours, the CBI officials informed the family members of Mopidevi they were arresting him.
On Wednesday too, Mopidevi was questioned for seven hours over the land allotments for VANPIC project. Later, the CBI has sent a formal communication about minister's detention to the General Administration Department.
Later, the CBI has also sent a communication to Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar about Mopidevi's arrest.
Mopidevi is the fourth accused to be arrested in the Jagan's assets case. While Jagathi Publications vice-chairman Vijay Sai Reddy was arrested about two months ago, on May 16, the investigative agency arrested Nimmagadda Prasad, the founder of Matrix Laboratories and the original Indian partner of Vanpic project along with senior bureaucrat Brahmananda Reddy.
After Mopidevi arrest, the CBI officials shifted him to NIMS for a medical check-up. He is likely to be produced before the CBI Special Court at Nampally this evening.
According to sources, after initial resistance, Mopidevi has submitted his resignation to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy following pressure from the high command.