12:50 pm: Times Now reports that some of Jaganmohan Reddy’s supporters have been detained by the police even as the chief of the YSR Congress continues to be interrogated by the CBI. The police have reportedly placed prohibitory orders in order to prevent any law and order deterioration in the event that Reddy is arrested by the CBI.
12:10 pm: Reddy still being questioned by the CBI amidst tight security outside the guest house where he is being interrogated.
A report says that Jaganmohan Reddy has already prepared a contingency plan in the event that he is arrested and has said that his mother Vijayamma will take charge of the YSR Congress in the event of his arrest.
Vijayamma, wife of former chief minister YSR Reddy, has been actively involved in the party’s activities and helping them prepare for the 12 June byelections in the state. An MLA from the Pulivendula constituency she has reportedly undergone a massive transformation since her husband’s demise and could be a force for the other political parties to contend with in the event that Jaganmohan Reddy is arrested.
10.50am: Perhaps fearing trouble from Jaganmohan Reddy’s supporters, police have cordoned off the special CBI guesthouse where he is being questioned in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Reddy entered the guesthouse minutes ago, where he is expected to be questioned for many hours. Media reports speculate that the questioning is likely to continue for the next two days at least. The million dollar question at the moment is whether or not he will be arrested today.
Reddy had an anticipatory bail plea rejected on the grounds that there was nothing to suggest that he would be arrested.
10.40am: Jaganmohan Reddy has finally reached the CBI courthouse, flanked by throngs of his supporters. Reddy was seated in the frontseat of his vehicle, which had supporters literally hanging off the vehicle. The supporters are extremely verbal and seem to be on edge. There was a heavy police presence along the route that Reddy took from his residence to the CBI guesthouse.
10.30am: Jaganmohan Reddy emerges from his residence cheered by a throng of supporters. He is scheduled to reach the special CBI guesthouse for questioning shortly.
10.20am:YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy is to be questioned today by the CBI with speculation rife that he could be arrested for acquiring financial assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Reddy, whose anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a CBI court on Thursday, has said he is being targetted by his political opponents.
“What CBI is doing, it is not doing an investigation, it is doing an investigation to implicate me,” Reddy told CNN IBN.
Reddy’s fears of arrest were increased after the Andhra Pradesh Minister for Excise and Prohibition Mopidevi Venkata Ramana was arrested in connection with the case.
The allegation against Mopidevi is that he overlooked the decisions of the then Cabinet and extended several additional concessions and exemptions to Vanpic Ports Private Limited, resulting in heavy monetary loss to the exchequer.
“Important thing is that they want to arrest me, they want to create a law and order situation,” Reddy said.