After the Supreme Court judgement against AIADMK chief VK Sasikala in a corruption case, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday had a discussion on the verdict.
The discussion took place at the state coordination committee meeting held at Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu's residence in Undavalli.
TDP also demanded expeditious trial of the illegal assets case against the YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, maintaining the case to be as serious as J Jayalalithaa case.
There is no difference between the two cases. There, Sasikala (close aide of the late Tamil Nadu CM) misused Jayalalithaa’s position and amassed illegal wealth through quid pro quo deals. Jagan did the same in Andhra Pradesh abusing his father (late) YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s position (as CM). If Sasikala got a four-year jail term for a scam of Rs 66 crore, Jagan should get many more years as he illegally amassed about Rs one lakh crore. As per the Supreme Court’s previous directions, the cases against Jagan should be disposed of within one year. Even if he gets convicted in one out of 11 cases, he is sure to end up in jail for many yearsTDP MLC and spokesman Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy told Deccan Chronicle.
Referring to the sentencing of Sasikala to four years imprisonment for corruption, Naidu pointed fingers at YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Times of India quoted Chandrababu Naidu as saying, “Imagine what could be the quantum of punishment in the Rs 1 lakh crore embezzlement case if a four-year imprisonment is handed out for amassing Rs 64 crore.”
Referring to the possibility of Sasikala being disqualified from contesting for public office, he also said that one should be aware of the consequences of indulging in corruption, and the corrupt leaders need to be sent behind bars.
He also reportedly said that any leader should face a similar punishment if the probing agencies have evidence of accumulation of illegal wealth.
The ministers present at the meeting reportedly pointed out the likely punishment to be faced by Jagan and his associates in the disproportionate assets case.
TDP MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao told TOI “the YSRC chief must be facing a quake of sorts at his Lotus Pond residence already. I foresee a 40-year jail term for Jagan for amassing huge assets.”
The New Indian Express quoted Naidu as saying that the verdict has changed the political equation in Tamil Nadu, considering how seriously corruption charges are being dealt with by the courts.
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