No relief for former AP minister in Jagan DA case

Opposing Mopidevi's bail, the CBI had contended earlier that since further investigation into some more aspects of proposed Vadrarevu and Nizampatnam Port and Industrial Corridor (Vanpic) project was underway, the former minister be not granted the relief as he might tamper with the evidence.

The project was promoted by industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad.

The Vanpic project was taken up between the Andhra Pradesh government and Government of Ras Al Khaima of UAE without going for any open competitive bidding, the CBI had said.

According to the agency, Mopidevi secured the Cabinet approval for the project and transferred 28,000 acres of land to the promoter keeping the Cabinet in the dark.

Mopidevi was the minister for infrastructure and investments in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (now deceased) Cabinet when the Vanpic deal was struck.

The CBI had named Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and Mopidevi besides 12 others in its fourth chargesheet filed in August in Jagan case.

Mopidevi and Brahmananda Reddy were arrested in May this year and are under judicial custody.

Meanwhile, the court also extended till Oct 25 the judicial remand of Jagan and other accused in the quid pro quo deals involving the Kadapa MP, after hearing their appeal through video conferencing.

While some of the accused named in the fourth chargesheet appeared before the court in person, Dharmana sought exemption for his personal appearance in view of his mother's death.

Similarly, the judicial custody of former Karntaka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and others was extended in the OMC scam and also of the suspended IAS officer B P Acharya and other accused in Emaar scam till October 25.