CBI grills Penna Cement promoter

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday quizzed Penna Cement Industries promoter P. Pratap Reddy in the illegal assets case of Kadapa MP and YSR Congress Party president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy. Pratap Reddy was questioned in the temporary office of CBI at Dilkusha Guest House here and his statements were recorded, according to sources. In its charge sheet filed earlier, CBI contented that the Penna group was illegally allotted land, and limestone mining leases in return for investments he had made in companies promoted by Jagan. Earlier this month, the Andhra Pradesh Government had scrapped allotment of an 822-acre mining lease to Penna Cement in Ranga Reddy district. The lease was scrapped on the ground that the company had not yet commenced mining, needed for its cement unit. The allotment was made in 2009 for a period 29 years.