Why is AP politico Jaganmohan Reddy still in jail, SC asks CBI

The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation on a plea by Andhra Pradesh politician asking the probe agency to explain why politician Jaganmohan Reddy should not be granted bail.

Jagan, as he is popularly called, is the son of late Andhra chief minister Y S R Reddy. He has been in jail for nearly a year over allegations of acquiring huge or 'disproportionate' assets through land deals when his father was chief minister.

The apex court has asked the investigation agency to file its response by 6 May.

During today's arguments, Jagan's lawyer quoted a recent news reports that said a union government minister had hinted that if Jagan were to agree to join the Congress, he may be able to "come out of jail".

Jagan is creating waves in Andhra Pradesh politics despite the slew of graft charges against him and his father YSR, a former Congress chief minister.

The CBI says that when YSR was chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, he got companies to invest in his son's vast business empire in return for land at cheap rates, apart from the licenses and clearances necessary for their own businesses.

YSR died in a helicopter crash in September 2009.