File pic: Jagan comes out of Chanchalguda Jail. He is in CBI custody till June 7. (PTI)
YSR Congress Chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today moved a plea in the Andhra Pradesh High Court asking it to direct to the state government and jail authorities to allow him to communicate through media in view of the forthcoming by-elections on June 12.
Jagan is presently under CBI custody in connection with an alleged disproportionate assets case.
The Kadapa MP requested the High Court to allow him to communicate, publish and telecast his letters and verbal appeals to the electorate of Andhra Pradesh in both the print and electronic media in accordance with law, during the period of his custody in Chanchalguda Prison in Hyderabad.
Jagan, son of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was arrested by the investigating agency on May 27 and is under judicial remand till June 11 and lodged at Chanchalguda jail. The High Court had last week granted Jagan's custody to CBI for five days till June 7.
In the application filed through his counsel Jagan said, "I am heading a political party (YSR Congress) which is contesting the elections and I have been deprived of my right under law to participate in electioneering in support of the candidates nominated by YSR Congress Party to contest in the ensuing by-elections by reason of the events leading to my being lodged in central prison."
Jagan sought to express his views and thoughts on various current affairs, including the political ideology of YSR Congress Party, in the form of communications to the media, print and electronic. He further sought to declare the refusal of the government and prison authorities to permit him in this regard as "unconstitutional and illegal".
The CBI, which has so far filed three chargesheets in the case, has accused Jagan of getting investments of several crores from numerous firms into his own businesses as part of quid-pro-quo when his father Y S Rajsekhara Reddy was chief minister.
By-polls to 18 Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat will be held in Andhra Pradesh on June 12.