Want to question Jagan as a suspect in wealth case: ED

Bangalore, Jul 3: The Enforcement Directorate has informed a CBI court in

that

will be interrogated as a

in the case relating to his disproportionate assets and not as an

.

The Enforcement Directorate stressed during the hearing of its petition yesterday that Jagan's statement needs to be recorded as he was the chairman and director of Jagathi Publications Private Limited which is named in the CBI's charge sheet as accused no 12.

However, the Kadapa MP's counsel raised an objection, citing Jagan's resignation from the two posts back on Feb 1, 2011. "The petition filed by the ED is without any evidence supporting their contention. There is no prima facie made out against accused no 12. Though a chargesheet has been filed, there is no available against the accused. In the absence of any material evidence, the ED cannot contend that a case is made out against the accused," Jagan's counsel argued.

The defence also pointed out that Jagan cannot provide accurate replies to the ED's queries since he is currently lodged in the Chanchalguda prison.

The ED told the court that an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) has already been registered in the case. "The agency has powers to summon anyone. We have issued summons under Section 50(2) of PMLA and with directions of CBI court we have served the summons to Jaganmohan Reddy in Chanchalguda prison. This petition is not a custody petition. We have not termed him an accused. There is a need for facts to be revealed as there is a conspiracy involved," the ED said.

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