Andhra Pradesh awaits court's decision on Agri Gold

Hyderabad: Reacting to the demand for CBI inquiry on the Agri gold issue, the AP government has said that it is ready for a CBI probe. However, depositors are opposing that.

The government has said that this issue is pending with the High Court and the government is waiting for the Court’s direction. On Monday, opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged in the Assembly that the Chief Minister is protecting the accused persons in the case.

He alleged that agriculture minister Prattipati  Pulla Raohas purchased 14 acres of land in the name of his wife from the vice-president of Agri gold company. The minister accepted the purchase of land but clarified that the land had nothing to do with Agri gold company. The opposition leader raised several points and said “this is a case fit for CBI inquiry.”

Mr Reddy said that Sitaram Avas, brother of Agri gold sold 1.15 acres of land in Tirupati for Rs 14 crore on August 10, 2015 and Mr Pulla Rao purchased 14 acres of land in the name of his wife Venkayamma on January 14, 2015 from Uday Dinkar who worked as Vice-Chairman of Agri gold. Showing the documents Jagan asked why these properties were not shown in the list of attachment properties of Agri gold. He said that the state government has issued GO No 23 on February 20, 2015 announcing the list of properties of Agri gold and the government did not attached the lands purchased by the minister’s wife and the Tirupati lands.

Reacting to the allegations, the agriculture minister said that he purchased the land after taking legal opinion and added that these lands had nothing to do with Agri gold. He challenged Mr Reddy to prove that the lands purchased by him have connection with Agri gold. The minister said that if the YSRC leader proved so, he will give all the land belonging to him - not only these 14 acres but other lands won by him and he is also ready for any penalty to pay.

Minister K Atchennaidu said that the government is ready for a CBI inquiry on Agri gold issue. However he said some communist leaders and Agri gold victims met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the morning and discussed the issue.

The minister said that the CM favoured CBI inquiry but Communist leaders and victims opposed it saying if a CBI inquiry is ordered it will take a long time to complete.

The minister said that one petition is pending with the High Court, filed by Agri gold victims, requesting for a CBI inquiry into the Agri gold issue.

He said that when the petition is pending in court, the government cannot take a decision. He said if necessary the CM will write to the Chief Justice of the High Court requesting for a Special Court for speedy disposal of the cases.

Earlier YS Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the CM is pressuring the CID to protect the accused in the case and two key persons Sitaram Aavas and Uday Dinkar have not been arrested. He said that the CBI told the Court that there is no need to arrest the management of Agri gold. The ministers Atchen-naidu and Prattipati Pulla Rao alleged that the late Chief Minister YSR had encouraged Agri gold and taken hundreds of crore rupees for party functions and during elections.

Mr Reddy said that the SEBI in 1998 itself issued a notification that Agri gold was banned. Then why didn’t the TD government take any action till 2004 even though it was in power? Denying minister Prattipati’s allegations that YSR took the Agri gold management to AICC President Sonia Gandhi, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “the minister may also allege that YSR took the Agri gold management to US President Barak Obama.”

Immediately after the House began on Monday YSRCP members rushed to the podium and stalled the proceedings demanding that discussions on Agri gold be taken up. Rejecting the YSRCP’s demand Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao adjourned the House twice. After the House assembled, YSRCP continued protests at the podium, shouting slogans demanding a debate on the issue. Speaker Kodela said that the issue would be taken up after lunch following which, YSRCP members resumed their seats.