A special CBI court here on Thursday extended judicial remand till June 21 of former Andhra Pradesh Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, who was arrested in connection with alleged disproportionate assets case against YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Mr. Mopidevi, who was arrested by CBI on May 24 over his role in “clandestine” allocation of VANPIC project, (whose promoter industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad alias Matrix Prasad allegedly made investments of around Rs.850 crore in Jagan-owned firms) was remanded to CBI custody for five days initially.
He was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Chenchalguda jail till today.
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After completion of the judicial custody, the jail authorities produced Mr. Mopidevi before the court of Principal Special Judge for CBI cases today which further extended his remand till June 21, while dismissing his bail petition.
In his bail plea moved through his counsel, Mr. Mopidevi had earlier said he was suffering from high blood-pressure and other ailments and further contended that he was falsely implicated in the case.
He said the entire processing of files was done in routine course of business which was duly approved by the then Chief Minister (late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy) and all rules relating to circulation of files were duly followed.
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While opposing Mr. Mopidevi’s bail, the CBI had earlier claimed that it had ample evidence to show the complicity of the former Minister in commission of the offence.
CBI said “he was instrumental in clandestine allocation of the VANPIC project in contravention to the laid down procedures, and approving the Cabinet Memorandum by withholding many important aspects related to the proposed project such as total extent of land”.