Hyderabad, August 18
The CBI today conducted countrywide searches at business establishments and residences of YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in connection with the disproportionate assets case against the MP.

The raids were conducted at Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi and Rajkot after obtaining search warrant from a special CBI court here. There is a speculation in the political circles that the arrest of Jagan (38) is imminent.

However, the CBI Joint Director VV Lakshminarayana, who led a team of 11 officials to search Jagan’s palatial bungalow at Banjara Hills in the city, remained tightlipped on the possibility of arrest but said the documents seized during the searches would be examined thoroughly before proceeding further.

Around 20 CBI teams participated in the simultaneous raids which will continue tomorrow. Jagan was not at home when CBI sleuths came calling. He is presently touring Krishna district. The CBI officials also conducted search at the residence of Jagan’s sister Sharmila and at several business establishments owned by the young MP, including Bharati Cements, Sandur Power and Jagati Publications which publishes the leading Telugu daily “Sakshi” and Indira Television which runs “Sakshi” news channel.

The searches were also conducted at the companies which had made huge investments into Jagan’s business ventures, allegedly as a quid quo pro arrangement for the favours they received from the government headed by Jagan’s father late YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

The investigating agency secured warrants to search 91 locations belonging to 32 corporates and individuals.

Jagan and others have been booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act as directed by the High Court.

The crux of the charges against him is that he had misused his late father’s official position to attract investments into his businesses in return for doling out favours such as land allotments and mining leases.