YS Jagan Attack Case: NIA Questions Accused On Plot Behind Murder Attempt  

Amaravati/Hyderabad: Janupalli Srinivasa Rao, the accused in the murder attempt on Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly and YSR Congress party president, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was questioned by National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths on certain aspects of the case. It may be recalled that on October 25, 2018, Srinivasa Rao, a chef in Fusion Foods, a restaurant at the Visakhapatnam airport owned by a TDP sympathiser and ticket aspirant in 2014, Harshvardhan Chowdary, lunged at YS Jagan with a knife, causing a grievious shoulder injury. The murderous attack took place in the VIP lounge of the airport. The accused posing as a waiter, approached YS Jagan on the pretext of seeking a selfie with the YSRCP chief.

It is learnt that the NIA team questioned the attacker on key aspects related to the case for the third day. Prior to the interrogation, the NIA sleuths took Srinivasa Rao for medical examination. He was questioned in the presence of his lawyer at the NIA office in Madhapur in Hyderabad.

According to sources, Srinivasa Rao was questioned with respect to call data records and on his acquisition of hundreds of SIM cards and changing several mobile phone devices, during the course of one year. The NIA team is also reported to have questioned the attacker on his transactions related to his bank account. Key questions like who got him the job at the Fusion Foods restaurant in the airport, formed a vital part of the investigation, it is learnt.

Sources say that Srinivasa Rao's call records relating to conversations with the TDP leader in question, also constituted a part of the interrogation session. Other aspects of questioning included how a person with a criminal record could obtain a pass (even a temporary one) to enter the airport and who was behind getting the accused the temporary pass, sources say. It is learnt that NIA officials are also looking into the persons responsible for the clearance certificate obtained from the local police authorities.

Did anyone prompt the accused to carry out the murder attempt on the Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly? This was another key question which is said to have been probed by the officials. Srinivasa Rao's statements were recorded by the NIA officials. It is learnt that the NIA team could take the accused to the Vizag airport on Tuesday for reconstruction of the crime, as part of the probe. The inquiry is headed by NIA DIG Praveen Kumar.

Also Read:YS Jagan Attack Case: NIA Shifts Accused, Srinivasa Rao To Hyderabad