State to extend legal aid to IT Minister

The State Government on Tuesday decided to extend legal aid to Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Lakshmaiah, on the lines of four ministers, who received notices for issuing controversial GOs that allegedly helped YSR Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy amass alleged illegal wealth.

The government has issued a GO extending legal assistance to Ponnala Lakshmaiah following a letter written by him. As per the GO, the government would provide legal assistance and reimburse legal expenses incurred by the ministers including D Prasada Rao, P Sabitha Indra Reddy, J Geetha Reddy, Kanna Laxminarayana and Ponnala Laxmaiah. The Law and Finance departments have already cleared the file after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s approval to bear the costs. 

Earlier, Ponnala submitted a fresh letter to the Chief Minister for legal assistance to respond to the notice issued by the Supreme Court.

However, the government is yet to come out over extending legal assistance to former Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, who was among the six Ministers who were issued notices by the Supreme Court with regard to issuance of 26 controversial GOs.

It may be recalled that six Ministers - D Prasada Rao, P Sabitha Indra Reddy, J Geetha Reddy, Kanna Laxminarayana, Ponnala Laxmaiah and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and eight IAS officers were issued notices by the Supreme Court following a petition filed by one advocate P Sudhakar Reddy.