CBI court takes cognisance of Brahmananda Reddy's offences

Last month, CBI had informed the court that the Centre had sanctioned prosecution of Brahmananda under the PCA, for his role in executing the industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad- promoted Vadrevu and Nizampatnam Port Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) project, as a quid pro quo for investments into businesses of the Kadapa MP.

CBI which filed a memo in this regard before the court had requested it to take cognisance of offences of criminal misconduct punishable under Sec 13 (2), read with Section 13 (1) (C) and (d) of the PC Act against Brahmananda.

Bramhananda, who is currently under judicial custody, was a former Andhra Pradesh special secretary of Infrastructure and Investments.

He was arrested on May 15 by CBI along with VANPIC's promoter Nimmagadda Prasad, for his alleged role in helping YS Jaganmohan Reddy amass wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Bramhananda and Prasad are among the 14 charge sheeted accused in the VANPIC aspect of the YS Jaganmohan Reddy case.

Earlier, the court had taken cognisance of offences against Brahmananda on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

However, with the sanction order pending, the court had not taken cognisance of sections under the PC Act.

CBI submitted before the court a copy of the sanction order to prosecute the IRAS officer who was repatriated as chief accounts officer of South-Eastern Railways at Kolkata, after his deputation with the Andhra government.

The sanction order had said Bramhananda got the draft concession agreement for VANPIC approved by the Council of Ministers in the YSR government by "deception".