Top Court Exempts Sahara Chief From Personal Appearance In Frauds Case

The Special Court for CBI and ED cases on Friday rejected Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases.

Mr. Reddy, against whom ED officials filed five charge sheets, also filed a petition requesting the special court to allow appearance of the co-accused, Brahmananda Reddy and Ramgangi Reddy, on behalf of him in the ED cases. However, special court judge B.R. Madhusudhan Rao dismissed the petition. CBI counsel contended that appearance of the co-accused could not be allowed as charges were related to grave financial crimes.

The judge conducted further hearing in the case in-camera, asking other than the accused and the lawyers to leave the court hall. The in-camera proceedings were held till 2.30 p.m. YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy, IAS officers Y. Srilakshmi and Manmohan Singh appeared before the court in the case.