ED moves Telangana HC for daily trial in Jagan Mohan Reddy PMLA case
Synopsis
The ED has gone to the Telangana High Court demanding daily hearings in the money laundering case against Jagan Mohan Reddy — a case frozen for nearly a decade with nine charge sheets still stuck at the discharge petition stage. The move invokes Article 21 and draws on a Supreme Court ruling that economic offences demand a different, stricter approach.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a petition before the Telangana High Court on 23 September seeking a speedy, day-to-day trial in the PMLA case against Y.S.
Jagan Mohan Reddy and others.
The petition invokes the right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution, citing nearly 10 years of delays in proceedings.
The ED filed nine charge sheets before the Special CBI Court at Nampally, Hyderabad between 2016 and 2021 ; all remain stuck at the discharge petition stage.
The case involves alleged quid pro quo arrangements — corporate entities reportedly invested in Reddy-linked companies including Bharati Cement , Jagati Publications , and Janani Infrastructure in exchange for governmental favours.
The Supreme Court previously observed in the same case that economic offences 'constitute a class apart' requiring a stricter approach.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Telangana High Court seeking a speedy, day-to-day trial in the money laundering cases filed against former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others, invoking the right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petition, filed on 23 September, marks a significant escalation in a case that has remained largely stalled for nearly a decade.
What the ED Has Sought
The ED's petition before the High Court seeks directions to the criminal justice system to ensure proceedings are conducted with reasonable expedition. It has also demanded the personal appearance of all accused in the charge sheets filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 — including YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Jagan Mohan Reddy.
According to officials, the petition specifically targets the hearing of discharge petitions that have kept the case at a preliminary stage, effectively stalling further progress before the Special CBI Court at Nampally, Hyderabad.
A Decade of Delays
The ED has noted that proceedings in the Jagan Mohan Reddy case have remained pending for nearly 10 years, with the chronology of events itself demonstrating the absence of reasonable expedition. The agency filed nine charge sheets against Reddy and others before the Special CBI Court between 2016 and 2021.
While cognisance was taken in all nine charge sheets, the cases have been stuck at the discharge petition stage. Transfers of presiding officers and administrative reasons are cited as factors behind the continued delays.
The Alleged Quid Pro Quo Arrangement
The ED investigation — initiated on the basis of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR registered on the direction of the Andhra Pradesh High Court — pertains to alleged governmental favours extended to large corporate entities and individuals, and the receipt of substantial investments into companies associated with Reddy and his family members.
According to the ED, companies and individuals including Aurobindo Pharma, Hetero Drugs, Indu Projects, Indu Techzone, Lepakshi Knowledge Hub, VANPIC Projects, VANPIC Ports, Nimmagadda Prasad, Ramky Pharma City (India) Ltd, and The India Cements Ltd, among others, allegedly made investments through subscription of shares at exorbitant rates into companies linked to Reddy — including Bharati Cement Corporation, Jagati Publications, and Janani Infrastructure.
What the Supreme Court Has Said
The ED's petition draws on observations made by the Supreme Court in criminal appeal No. 730 of 2013 (Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy vs CBI), where the apex court noted that 'economic offences constitute a class apart and need to be visited with a different approach.' The court had held that economic offences involving deep-rooted conspiracies and huge losses of public funds must be viewed seriously, given the grave threat they pose to the financial health of the country.
What Happens Next
The Telangana High Court is now expected to take up the ED's petition for hearing. A direction for day-to-day trial, if granted, could significantly accelerate a case that has seen minimal progress in years. The outcome will be closely watched given Jagan Mohan Reddy's continuing role as YSRCP president and his status as a prominent figure in Andhra Pradesh politics.
Point of View
Not the prosecution — is a striking jurisprudential reversal that underscores how badly delayed this case has become. Nine charge sheets filed over five years, discharge petitions undecided for nearly a decade, and multiple transfers of presiding officers: the record itself is the indictment of a system in which high-profile economic offences can be indefinitely deferred. What is missing from the public discourse is accountability for the institutional inertia — not just from the accused's side, but from the court machinery. A direction for day-to-day trial, if granted, would be a test of whether that machinery can actually deliver on the Supreme Court's own declaration that economic offences require a different approach.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the ED moved the Telangana High Court in the Jagan Mohan Reddy case?
The ED has petitioned the Telangana High Court seeking a speedy, day-to-day trial in the money laundering case against Jagan Mohan Reddy and others, citing nearly 10 years of delay. The agency invoked Article 21 of the Constitution, arguing that the prolonged pendency violates the right to a reasonably expeditious trial.
What are the charges against Jagan Mohan Reddy under PMLA?
The ED's case pertains to alleged quid pro quo arrangements — corporate entities and individuals reportedly made large investments into companies linked to Reddy and his family in exchange for governmental favours extended during his tenure as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. Nine charge sheets were filed before the Special CBI Court in Hyderabad between 2016 and 2021.
Why has the trial been delayed for nearly 10 years?
The cases have remained at a preliminary stage because discharge petitions filed by the accused have not yet been decided, largely due to transfers of presiding officers and other administrative reasons. No significant progress has been made before the Special CBI Court at Nampally despite cognisance being taken in all nine charge sheets.
Which companies are implicated in the ED's investigation?
The ED's investigation identifies alleged investments from entities including Aurobindo Pharma, Hetero Drugs, Indu Projects, VANPIC Projects, Ramky Pharma City, and The India Cements Ltd, among others. These investments were allegedly made through share subscriptions at exorbitant rates into Reddy-linked companies such as Bharati Cement Corporation, Jagati Publications, and Janani Infrastructure.
What did the Supreme Court say about the Jagan Mohan Reddy economic offence case?
In criminal appeal No. 730 of 2013 (Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy vs CBI), the Supreme Court held that economic offences 'constitute a class apart and need to be visited with a different approach.' The court stated that such offences involving deep-rooted conspiracies and large-scale loss of public funds pose a serious threat to the financial health of the country.
