Visakhapatnam airport attack: YS Jagan’s counsel insists on further probe, rebuffs NIA claims
The NIA, which presented its arguments in the case before the court recently, claimed that there was no conspiracy angle in the attack
- Andhra Pradesh
NewsTAP Bureau- Updated On:17 April 2023 12:16 PM GMT
VIJAYAWADA: Rebuffing the argument of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Inkollu Venkateswarlu, the counsel for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, on Monday insisted on a deeper investigation into the attempt on the life of his client in Visakhapatnam when he was the opposition leader.
The NIA court began hearing the arguments of YS Jagan’s counsel in the sensational attack case. The YSRCP chief was attacked by one Srinivas with a small rooster knife (Kodi Katthi) inside Visakhapatnam airport on October 25, 2018.
The NIA, which presented its arguments in the case before the court recently, claimed that there was no conspiracy angle in the attack. Countering the NIA contentions, YS Jagan’s counsel said that the investigating officials questioned 35 witnesses in one single day. Three teams of investigations carried out their questioning, he said, adding that the Chief Minister’s statement was recorded by an additional Superintendent of Police.
“Even the ordinary citizen would realise the need for further investigation into the case, if he reads the chargesheet,” Advocate Venkateswarlu commented during his arguments. He claimed that accused Srinivas bought a house site in Tanekanka village with the recommendation of the erstwhile Janmabhoomi Committee.
“Harshavardhan Chowdary, the owner of the restaurant inside Visakhapatnam airport has brought Srinivas inside the airport as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. A Tollywood film actor then predicted about a certain Operation Garuda. How did the Garuda image crop up on the flex banner put up in the village of the accused? The NIA should also be asked to investigate as to how the Visakhapatnam airport authority issued a no-objection certificate to Srinivas against whom a case was already registered. Why did the NIA not question and probe Harshavardhan Chowdary, the owner of Food and Fusion restaurant and a staunch TDP follower? The NIA did not file any supplementary chargesheet after its first chargesheet,” YS Jagan’s counsel argued.
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, on the other hand, appealed to the court to order the conduct of further investigation into the case, he said.
