Jagan probe: Six firms submit documents to CBI

HYDERABAD: Six companies which invested in the businesses of YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy have submitted their replies to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing his assets, an agency official said Monday.CBI joint director V.V. Lakshminarayana, who is heading the multi-disciplinary team probing the case, told reporters that six companies had submitted documents. "We are scrutinising these documents," he said.The official said notice was also served on four or five more companies and they were yet to submit the documents.The CBI, which is conducting the preliminary investigations into the assets of Jaganmohan Reddy on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court, had served notice on various companies and individuals who invested in his business.Major investors Hetero Pharma, Matrix Labs and the Ramky Group were among the business houses asked to give replies by Monday.They reportedly bought at huge premium the shares of Jagati Publications Private Ltd owned by Jagan, as the son of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is popularly known. Notice was also issued to Jagati Publications, Bharati Cements and other firms owned by Jagan, the MP from Kadapa.Representatives of Jagati Publications also reached the CBI office Monday evening and submitted the documents sought by the investigating agency.The major investors in Jagati Publications allegedly paid huge premiums for the shares because they had received benefits or had hoped for them from Jagan's father and the then chief minister.The high court July 12 had asked CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry and submit a report in two weeks.The court passed the order while admitting the complaints of three people, including state Textile Minister P.Shankar Rao and Telugu Desam Party leader Yerran Naidu, as writ petitions in the case.The petitioners alleged that Jagan illegally amassed wealth through misuse of power during his father's tenure as chief minister.Meanwhile, Dubai-based Emaar Properties also submitted documents to CBI in response to the notice issued by the agency probing alleged irregularities in its township and golf course project.The court ordered preliminary investigations into the case on a letter petition by Shankar Rao, who alleged that Emaar committed irregularities in the joint venture with Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).The minister said the share of APIIC was brought down in the joint venture causing huge losses to the state exchequer. He claimed it was done in collusion with the Rajasekhara Reddy government.