Hyderabad:
Maintaining that the ruling Congress at both the Centre and state had no role in the arrest of YSR Congress Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kirankumar Reddy today said the CBI had booked him for alleged economic offences based on court orders.
"We have no role in the arrest of Jagan... he was arrested for his financial offences by the CBI on the orders of the High Court," he said addressing a public meeting as part of the Congress campaign for the June 12 by-election to Tirupati Assembly constituency.
The Kadapa MP was arrested by the CBI on May 27 in a disproportionate assets case and the High Court had allowed the CBI to take him into its custody for five days for further questioning.
The Chief Minister also said that Jagan would face a jail term of 10 or 15 years if the charges against him were proved.
Senior Congress leader and Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad accused Jagan of forcing the by-elections to 18 assembly constituencies and a Lok Sabha seat out of his 'selfish and opportunistic political interests.'
"Jagan does not deserve any mercy but we have great respect for the Late (Chief Minister) Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy and his widow YS Vijayamma," Azad said.
Rajya Sabha MP K Chiranjeevi and PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) President B Satyanarayana also addressed the meeting.