The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : PJR, Patrudu depose before Yeleru probe panel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

PJR, Patrudu depose before Yeleru probe panel

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 17. Two former Ministers and MLAs -- P. Janardhana Reddy of the Congress and Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu of Telugu Desam -- deposed before the Justice B. K. Somasekhara Commission of inquiry, probing the Yeleru land scam, here on Monday.

It was for the first time that two politicians appeared before the Commission after its revival and the court hall was packed. But both of them sought time to respond to the queries of the Commission.

Justice Somasekhara granted time till January 28 to Mr. Reddy and two-three weeks for Mr. Patrudu. The exact date of the latter's appearance would be decided on the next date of hearing.

They came at 11.30 a.m much before the commencement of the hearing. When his turn to appear came, Mr. Patrudu said he required four weeks to get and study the material.

But the Commission told him that only two to three weeks could be spared. Responding to queries, Mr. Patrudu said he was a Minister and held the portfolios of Technical Education in 1985, Roads and Buildings in 1994 and Forests in the previous regime.

Time lapse

Justice Somasekhara told Mr. Reddy that he had to be recalled as a witness to verify his earlier deposition, as there was time lapse of six years.

"The entire thing has to be built again". When he asked Mr. Reddy to study it thoroughly, he sought time till January 28 and it was granted.

Earlier, the Commission took exception to the absence of Abbas Hyderi Mazindrani and served him a show-cause notice asking him why appropriate action should not be initiated against him for disobeying the panel's order.

Mr. Hyderi was asked to be present before the Commission on February 2.

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