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CBI examined Mopidevi for four hours
Venkata Ramana, who held the portfolio of infrastructure and ports in the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet, was questioned at the CBI's camp office here.
The Central Bureau of Investigation here on Tuesday examined Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana for over four hours
Details about over a dozen government orders issued in 2008 pertaining to various concessions extended to VANPIC group of companies.
Mr. Venkata Ramana's tenure as Minister for Investments in YSR's Cabinet, that several investments were facilitated into Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's companies, allegedly in return for concessions to Vodarevu and Nizampatnam Port and Industrial Corridor (VANPIC) Project in the form of land allocation.
The Minister's examination, though as a witness, assumes significance as the CBI has to file its charge-sheet in the court against Mr. Jagan in the disproportionate assets case before April 2, according to the law.
Dr. Manmohan Singh was present along with Mr. Venkata Ramana, between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. and after he left, it took the Minister two more hours to finally leave the Guest House.
As he was leaving the guest house, the Minister told waiting presspersons that he was called in as a witness to testify on the procedures followed in issuing the GOs. Asked if he was likely to be called again for examining, Mr. Venkata Ramana said that, as a law-abiding citizen and responsible Minister
He is the first minister to be examined in the case in which several top bureaucrats were questioned earlier.
Tue 20 Mar, 2012,11:40:35 PM
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