Congress leaders and Ministers have almost given up on their colleague Dharmana Prasada Rao after having realised that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has an iron-clad case against the Minister and not vague charges over the issue of land allotment to Vanpic.
Three days after Mr. Prasada Rao tendered resignation from the Cabinet citing moral grounds, it is becoming clear that he is indeed now in deep trouble. Notwithstanding the solidarity expressed by his Cabinet colleagues, the general impression is that Mr. Prasada Rao’s resignation would be accepted shortly, paving way for the CBI to close in on him.
Mr. Prasada Rao, who is the A-5 in the charge-sheet pertaining to Vodarevu and Nizampatnam Ports and Industrial Corridor (Vanpic) project, has been booked under offences punishable under section 120B, 409, 419, 420, 468, 471, 477A of IPC and section 9, 11,12, 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy himself is said to have expressed helplessness to bail out Mr. Prasada Rao when Congress leaders from Srikakulam district met him on Thursday and advised them to seek the help of Central leaders. Sources said two more senior Ministers are in the line when the CBI files its fifth charge-sheet in the disproportionate assets case against Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
