CBI plays safe; awaits court nod to arrest Jagan

When the Central Bureau of Investigation filed the chargesheet against Jagan Mohan Reddy on March 31, blaming him for using his late father's office to hatch a conspiracy for illegal gains, may believed that the YSR Congress chief would be arrested soon.

However surprisingly, the agency chose to not even interrogate him leave alone arrest him.

It appears that the CBI's strategy is to throw the ball in the court of the judiciary rather than take any suo motu action.

Jagan loyalists and lawyers have been contending that the case against him is very weak and that the CBI has not been able to connect the dots. Moreover, Jagan's primary defence has been that all decisions were taken by the cabinet and hence it becomes a collective responsibility.

...

The CBI has often been accused of being a puppet of the ruling party.

In this case, the agency is awaiting a court order so as to avoid being looked upon like the ones who are targeting Jagan at the behest of the ruling party.

Jagan's arrest was also largely dependent on the political weather in the state.

The just concluded by-poll was a disaster for the Congress. Now, the forthcoming by-election to the 18 seats is something that the Congress is keeping a close watch on.

The election is being seen as a mini general election in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan has said that his party will contest on all the 18 seats. If this were to happen it would mean that many MLAs from the Congress would cross over into YSR Congress, which would make the Congress a non-player in the state.

...

His arrest could be a double-edged sword for the Congress. In case he is arrested then there is every chance of him walking away with the sympathy. His mother would take over the party and the mantra that she would chant is well known. The other possibility is that the party could crumble without a proper leader.

The other issue on hand is the chargesheet itself, which has also blamed Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

YSR was leading a Congress government at the time of his death. And all the alleged controversial decisions were taken by the Congress cabinet.

Jagan's camp and lawyers argue that the blame cannot be placed only on Jagan and YSR.

Click on NEXT to go further...