Thaindian News

Hyderabad, July 16 (IANS) A special court here Monday dismissed a petition by the CBI for narco-analysis and other scientific tests on jailed YSR Congress Party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his aide Vijay Sai Reddy in an illegal assets case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court’s verdict, which it had reserved on July 4, has come as a setback to the investigating agency.

Principal Special Judge U. Durga Prasad agreed with the contention of counsel of Jaganmohan Reddy and his aide that as per the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, narco analysis and other scientific tests could not be conducted on an accused without his consent.

The counsel told the court that Jagan, as the MP from Kadapa is popularly known, and Vijay Sai Reddy were not ready to undergo the tests.

The accused also opposed the CBI plea on the ground that the tests could lead to health complications and endanger their lives.

The CBI filed the petition last month saying the accused were not cooperating in investigations.

The agency argued that there was no other option left with them but to subject Jagan and his auditor to narco-analysis, polygraph and BEAP (Brain Electrical Activation Profile) tests to ascertain facts related to the case.

The CBI told the court that the two were not revealing any information with regard to the conspiracy they hatched.

Jagan and Vijay Sai Reddy were the beneficiaries of the ‘hawala’ operations and other financial transactions involving routing of ill-gotten money invested by companies and individuals into Jagan’s businesses, the probe agency said.

In February this year, the special court dismissed the CBI petition for narco-analysis and other tests on Vijay Sai Reddy, auditor of the companies owned by Jagan.

The CBI arrested Jagan May 27 on the charges that he conspired with his father and then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to dole out favours to companies and individuals who invested in his firms.