Jagan case: AP govt to pay for ministers' legal expenses

Andhra Pradesh government will bear the legal expenses of four ministers who are respondents in a petition filed by a lawyer P Sudhakar Reddy in connection with Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy's disproportionate assets case.

The Supreme Court had issued notices in March to the four ministers, along with two other ministers in the case wherein it was alleged that 26 Government Orders (during the YS Rajasekhara Reddy rule) were issued against public interest and which helped Jagan amass wealth.

The Supreme Court issued notices to ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao (former Revenue), J Geeta Reddy (Major Industries), P Sabita Reddy (former Mines), Kanna Lakshminarayana (previously Major Industries), Ponnala Lakshmaiah (former Irrigation) and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana (previously Infrastructure and Investment) based on Sudhakar Reddy's petition.

Mopidevi was subsequently arrested by CBI in Jagan's disproportionate assets case and he quit the cabinet.

The ministers wrote to the government last month requesting for assistance and reimbursement of legal expenses to fight the case in the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister's Office recommended the ministers' case to the General Administration Department and accordingly the Principal Secretary (Political) Ajay Misra issued an order on Saturday granting legal costs to four out of the six respondents, sources said.

Mopidevi who is now in jail, and Ponnala, now information technology minister, have been omitted from the list, they said.

The government has agreed to bear the legal expenses for Dharmana, Geeta Reddy, Kanna and Sabita Reddy only and the requests from Mopidevi and Ponnala were not considered.

"We are yet to take a decision in their case. The chief minister has to give his consent for this," a GAD official said.