Court dismisses Jagan's plea on exemption from appearance

A court here on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy seeking exemption from personal appearance in connection with the ongoing trial in the quid pro quo investments cases against him and asked him to be present on January 31.

The Special Court for CBI Cases here is also a designated court for Enforcement Directorate cases.

The CBI court had earlier rejected a similar plea filed by Jagan who subsequently appeared before it on January 10.

The court on Friday also directed the chief minister to appear before it on January 31.

The YSR Congress president has been charge sheeted in at least 11 cases as the prime accused in alleged quid pro quo deals.

The cases relate to investments made by various companies in Jagan's firms as quid pro quo for various favours bestowed on them during the tenure of his father late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as Chief Minister between 2004 and 2009.

Several former ministers and bureaucrats are also accused in the case.

Jagan is currently out on bail, having spent time in jail as an "un-convicted criminal prisoner" in the Chanchalguda Central Prison from May 2012 to September 2013.