The CBI on Tuesday questioned senior officials of the information department on releasing advertisements to the Sakshi daily and Sakshi TV channel in violation of rules during the YSR regime.

It may be noted these two channels are owned by YSR Congress Party president Mr YS Jaganmohan reddy. The CBI officials are trying to know the reasons for issuing huge advertisements to the newly launched paper and channel in violation of all rules “We are actually trying to find the details of the politicians and officials who were behind the act,” said an official.

IAS officer Mr Parthasaradhi, who worked as the Commissioner, Information Department during the YSR regime, former deputy director of the department Mr Prabhakar Rao and Mr Rajababu, the present deputy director were grilled for three hours by the CBI sleuths. They reportedly told the CBI officials they had issued huge advertisements to Jagan-owned daily and TV channel at the behest of the then CM YSR.

“We used to meet the CM almost daily to take instructions for festivals, for newly launched government programmes and to discuss department-related issues. We had simply followed oral instructions of the then CM and issued advertisements to the Channel and the daily,” the officials informed the CBI sleuths.

Even the officials of the advertisement department of the channel and the daily were also grilled by the CBI. (JUBS)