DA case: Court allows plea to prosecute Dharmana, Mopidevi

Hearing the plea filed by CBI to prosecute Andhra Pradesh Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and former minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao in the case, the court took cognisance of offences under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act to prosecute them.

The court further directed that Dharmana and Mopidevi should appear before it on January 31, CBI's Deputy Legal Advsior Balla Ravindranath said.

The CBI had earlier filed a memo in the court urging it to take cognisance of offences under Section 13 (1) (d) read with 13 (2) of the PC Act against the two.

The agency had urged to take cognisance of the role of the duo without any sanction from the government to prosecute them.

Dharmana and Mopidevi, who was holding the Excise portfolio when he was arrested in May last year, are among the 14 charge-sheeted accused in the Vanpic aspect of the assets case.

Mopidevi is presently under judicial custody.

CBI has contended that sanction for prosecution against both the accused was not necessary and court may take cognisance of case against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Dharmana was Revenue Minister during Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's tenure in 2004-2009, when the 'Vanpic Project' was conceived. Mopidevi was then Infrastructure Minister.

The CBI said as the two accused no more held the same portfolios, sanction for prosecution was not required.

Dharmana and Mopidevi are appearing in court for offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the investigating agency had earlier said that both of them should be brought to book under PC Act.