Knife-attack case: Jagan seeks exemption from appearance in NIA special court

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy filed two petitions in the court of special judge for trial of cases under the National Investigation Agency Act here on Monday in the case of a knife attack on him in Visakhapatnam airport in 2018.

The CM filed a petition in the court saying that he should be given the opportunity to record his statement in the court through the advocate commissioner. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that, being the Chief Minister, he was having a lot of work and responsibilities and he was reviewing the implementation of several welfare schemes.

This apart, if he were to attend the court in person, his convoy of vehicles that are part of his security arrangements, would cause traffic congestion in the area. Hence, he urged the court to appoint an advocate commissioner so that the advocates would record his statement and submit it to the court. The CM also sought a video conference facility so that he would make a statement in the case during the hearings in the NIA’s special court.

The CM, in his second petition, sought an in-depth investigation in the case. However, accused J. Srinivasa Rao’s lawyer Abdus Saleem said rule of law is applicable to all citizens in equal measure irrespective of their position or status in the society. “We shall file a counter-affidavit in court seeking the presence of the victim (Jagan) in the court on April 13, when the next hearing in the case takes place,” he said.

 

Moreover, he said, the YSR Congress legal cell “wrongly mentioned” the Section 156 (3) of CrPC in the case, instead of section 173 (8). Nearly four years have passed since the incident took place. The NIA filed the  chargesheet, he noted, and wondered how there now was a requisition for a thorough probe in the case.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was then the leader of the Opposition, was attacked with a knife by a restaurant waiter, J. Srinivasa Rao, at the Visakhapatnam airport in October, 2018. It hurt Jagan Mohan Reddy near to his shoulder, though it was a minor wound.