AP minister held in Jagan DA case

Mopidevi, who held portfolio of Investment and Infrastructure in the cabinet of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy when the controversial allotment was alleged to have been taken place, was charged with section 120 (b) read with 420 (cheating with criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 477 A (falsification of accounts) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Mopidevi was produced before a CBI court which remanded him to police custody till May 30.

CBI said in its remand report that though the minister was quizzed for the past two days for his alleged role in allotment of land to industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad, alias Matrix Prasad, for setting up the proposed Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Ports and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) during 2007-08, he did not reveal all the facts related to the case, including the role of different public servants and private persons, involved in the case.

Following his arrest, the minister handed over his resignation letter to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

CBI has already arrested senior bureaucrat K V Brahmananda Reddy and Prasad, (also a promoter of VANPIC), who allegedly invested in Jagan's businesses as a quid pro quo.

CBI in its remand report against Mopidevi alleged the minister approved the cabinet memorandum containing proposals for awarding of VANPIC project by withholding many important aspects related to the project such as total extent of land decided for the project. (More)