Vijayawada, April 17 (). The NIA court on Monday adjourned till April 20 the hearing in the 2018 knife attack case on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought time to present its arguments on the plea filed by the Chief Minister seeking a thorough investigation.
Last week, the NIA had said in an affidavit in reply to a petition filed by Jagan Mohan Reddy that there was no conspiracy behind the attack. It urged the court to dismiss the petition. The agency told the court that Harsh Vardhan, the owner of the airport restaurant, was not involved in the attack.
On October 25, 2018, J Srinivasa Rao, a restaurant worker at Visakhapatnam airport, attacked Jagan Mohan Reddy with a small knife used in cockfighting. At that time, the leader of the opposition Jagan was injured in his hand. The court was also informed that the accused Srinivas was not associated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) or any other party.
The agency argued that since the trial in the court has already started, there is no need for another probe in the matter. As Jagan Mohan Reddy’s counsel sought time to present his arguments, the court adjourned the hearing till April 17. The Chief Minister’s counsel Venkateshwarlu on Monday presented his arguments as to why a detailed probe is required in the matter.
The court was told that the house was sanctioned to the accused by the Janmabhoomi committee during the rule of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He wanted to know how a person with a criminal background and belonging to TDP was given a job at the airport. Stating that it has raised several doubts, the counsel sought a detailed probe.
After the attack, the then TDP government had handed over the case to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police, but Jagan Mohan Reddy refused to record his statement saying that he had to rely on agencies controlled by the state government. Don’t trust. Suspecting a conspiracy by the TDP, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had moved the state high court seeking a probe by a central agency into the matter. Based on the court’s direction, the Center handed over the case to the NIA on December 31, 2018, and the agency registered the case on January 1, 2019.
KC/ANM
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