A special CBI court on Monday rejected YSRCP president YS Jaganmohan Reddy's application, that sought a temporary exemption from appearance during the hearing of a corruption case against him.
Jagan had applied for the exemption for six months, saying that he was undertaking a 'padayatra' from November 2.
Reddy told the court that he needed to undertake the padayatra to discharge his duty as the president of a political party and a public representative and to understand people's problems, PTI reported.
However, the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had opposed his plea, arguing that he may tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
This is a major setback for the 44-year-old opposition leader, as he will now have to appear in front of the court on Fridays.
The allegations against Jagan relate to the period 2004-2009. Jaganmohan reddy, who was arrested in May 2012, spent 16 months in jail before he was released on bail in 2013.
The chargesheets say that Jaganmohan Reddy, in criminal conspiracy with others, got allotted a mining lease to Bharathi Cement Corporation Private Limited illegally and received bribes from various persons/companies in the guise of investments in his group companies as 'quid pro quo' for undue favours granted to them by Andhra Pradesh government when Jagan's father YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister.
The ED said its investigations revealed that Jaganmohan Reddy laundered the proceeds of crime through his group companies Sandur Power, Classic Realty, Silicon Builders, Saraswati Power and Industries and 10 other companies in the form of investments, purchase of movable and immovable properties and third party payments etc.
11 chargesheets have been filed by the CBI against Jagan, senior government officials of Andhra Pradesh and businessmen in the 'quid pro quo' investment case.
Jagan meets Ramoji Rao
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Jagan met and spoke to media baron Ramoji Rao at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad on Monday.
Jagan and Ramoji are known to be rivals, as their media houses compete in the two Telugu states.
“Our leader wanted that the padayatra and the issues that are raised by the people during its course be highlighted in a proper manner by Ramoji Rao. Jagan also made it clear that the padayatra is not against anyone and is being undertaken only to know firsthand the issues that are facing the people,“ a source told the Times of India.
Another source told ToI that it was purely a 'courtesy call' with no political intentions.
IANS Inputs