The arrest of the mining mafia don and former Karnataka minister Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy, though coming 21 months after registering an FIR against him on the orders of the AP Government, is surely seen as a stage being set for the arrest of YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan reddy who is facing investigation for allegedly accumulating illegal wealth.

CBI affidavit in the AP High Court had revealed that Janardhan Reddy had made huge quid pro quo investments into Jagati Publications owned by Jagan.

RR Global, owned by Mr S. Diwakar Reddy, has made huge investments in Jagathi Publications and his brother Mr. S. Ramakrishna  Reddy is  the executive director of the Sakshi Telugu daily and  the Indira Television both owned by Jagan.

“There was a link between the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and the Jagathi Publications. RR Global was the sub contractor for the OMC and its money was invested in Jagathi Publications,” said the CBI in its affidavit.

However, observers think the arrest of Jagan may not take place in the immediate future going by the statements of the CBI officials. “We are collecting more evidences against Jagan and we are limited to that act only at present,” say the officials.

The CBI registered cases against Janardhan Reddy on December 7, 2009 under various sections of IPC, the Prevention of Corruption Act, Indian Forest Act, Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act with regard to the alleged illegal mining. But his arrest has taken place now after a gap of more than one-and-a-half-years now.

The same delay may not take place in Jagan’s case before he is arrested. Since the CBI has been making its moves in the most strategic manner, the investigating agency may swoop on him at any moment.