Govt Must Provide Security To Jagan For Every Friday Court!

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has continued to skip his Friday court appearances in the disproportionate assets cases being heard by the Nampally CBI Court.

Before becoming Chief Minister, Jagan regularly attended court proceedings and even paused his Padayatra every Friday to be present in person. However, after assuming office in 2019, he began filing continuous absent petitions, citing official duties as the reason for non-appearance.

During his five-year tenure as Chief Minister, he appeared in court only a few times. Even now, as the Opposition leader, Jagan continues to avoid personal appearances.

The trials in these cases have been pending for more than 12 years, with the proceedings repeatedly delayed by multiple discharge petitions filed by the accused.

Recently, the CBI Court granted Jagan permission to travel to Europe from October 1 to 30, with specific conditions — he must share his travel details, contact information, and appear before the court by November 14 upon return.

After his return, Jagan did not appear in court but requested an exemption, arguing that his appearance would require special security arrangements, which could burden the state machinery. He stated that he was willing to attend if the court insisted but preferred to join the hearings via video conference if permitted. The court is currently reviewing his request.

Observers have pointed out that Jagan has been touring across Andhra Pradesh, attending political programs and visiting leaders in jail without raising similar security concerns. They argue that court premises are already heavily guarded, and citing security as a reason to skip hearings is unreasonable.

It has now been over 13 years since the cases were filed, yet the trial has not commenced. Legal experts and critics believe that continued exemptions risk delaying justice indefinitely.

Some argue that the state government should step in, assuring the court that it can provide security every Friday to enable Jagan’s personal attendance, considering the public interest involved.

These cases concern allegations of siphoning public funds, and ensuring a timely trial is crucial. If the allegations are false, Jagan deserves acquittal. But if true, early resolution is essential for public accountability.