Hitherto, it is only YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy who has been facing all the troubles in connection with the quid pro quo case foisted against him by his political rivals.
Now, the investigating authorities – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are not sparing even his family members.
Going by the reports that appeared in a section of media on Friday, Jagan’s wife Bharati has also figured in the charge-sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
She is learnt to have been named as Accused No. 5 (A-5) in the Raghuram Cements (later renamed as Bharati Cements) quid pro quo case.
The ED has named, in all, 19 persons including Jagan and MP Vijay Sai Reddy as accused in the three charge-sheets filed so far, accusing them of indulging in money laundering.
Though Bharati’s name did not figure initially, the ED included her name in the fresh charge sheet as A-5.
If the ED is serious about the case, then Bharati also may have to attend the trial court regularly in connection with the case, though the chances of arresting her are remote.
Naturally, it was a surprise and shock to Jagan, who was more pained at leaking the news only to select media groups.
“Shocked to see the reports by select media today, where my wife was named as accused by ED. Saddened to see politics degraded to such levels where even family is not spared (sic),” Jagan tweeted on the latest development.
This is definitely an irritant to Jagan, who has been slogging for several months to win the next assembly elections.
It is not exactly known why the ED has taken such a move at a time when there were reports that the YSRC was getting closer to the BJP. Watch out for more developments!