CBI questions AP minister Mopidevi in Jagan case

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana today appeared before the CBI here in connection with the alleged disproportionate assets case involving Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Mopidevi, who held the portfolio of Investment and Infrastructure in the cabinet of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, was apparently being “quizzed” for his role in allotment of 13,000 acres of land in Guntur and Prakasam district to industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad alias Matrix Prasad for setting up the proposed Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Ports and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) during 2007-08.

The Minister was being questioned on the information provided by senior bureaucrat KV Bramhananda Reddy and Prasad, who are under CBI custody after being arrested on 15 May.

Reddy, who had earlier worked with the state’s ports, investment and infrastructure wing as its special secretary, and Prasad signed the Concession Agreement on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh government and ‘Vanpic Ports Pvt Ltd’ (SPV) respectively.

However, investigation revealed that the said agreement signed was not in tune with the Cabinet approval, the CBI had earlier said.

This is the second appearance of Mopidevi before the Central agency which is apparently seeking more clarifications over the VANPIC deal and certain government orders issued by him.

Mopidevi is among the six Andhra Pradesh ministers who were issued notices by the Supreme Court in March, seeking their stand on the charge about their alleged role in the case against Jagan.