Jagan moves SC seeking stay of CBI probe into wealth

Jagan, son of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekar Reddy, after being denied the top post in the state, has floated his own YSR Congress Party on whose symbol he and his mother won Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendla assembly seats in recent by-polls.

The petition has challenged the July 12 high court order arguing it was "illegal" "erroneous" and "unsustainable" and deserves to be quashed. It is likely to be listed for hearing on Wednesday.

Jagan contended the High Court did not have the jurisdiction to order a preliminary CBI probe on a "politically motivated" petition. He has sought quashing of the high court order, which directed CBI to submit its report in two weeks.

The high court had passed the order on the petition filed by Andhra Pradesh Textiles Minister P Shankar Rao accusing Jagan of amassing huge wealth using his late father's position as chief minister. Rao had filed the petition before becoming the minister.

The high court had said it will decide on the issue of a full-fledged inquiry based after the preliminary report from the CBI.

The minister accused the Kadapa MP of money laundering by floating fictitious firms and routing the black money through some companies in Mauritius.

Rao had alleged that Jagan's income, which was only Rs 11 lakh in 2004, had gone up to Rs 43,000 crore.

Telegu Desam Party leader K Yerran Naidu and others had also filed similar petitions seeking a CBI probe into Jagan's wealth. The high court had also ordered a similar kind of inquiry into the alleged irregularities in a land deal between the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and Emaar Group.

Shankar Rao alleged large-scale irregularities took place over the transfer of land from the APIIC to Emaar-MGF, a subsidiary of Emaar Group.