The CBI recorded the st-atement of senior IAS official M.G.V.K. Bhanu as a witness in the Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy assets case on Sunday. Mr Bhanu was asked many questions regarding the allotment of the port project to Vanpic (Vadare-vu and Nizampatnam Port and Industrial Corridor) Projects Limited, revision of port limits and approv-al of concession agreem-ent. Vanpic, promoted by Nimmagadda Prasad, had invested hundreds of cro-res in Mr Reddy’s firms.

Mr Bhanu was handling Infrastructure and Invest-ment in the Chief Minis-ter’s Office during YSR’s regime. He was also dealing with irrigation, fore-st, roads and buildings. “I was called as a witn-ess and not as an accused. The mines subject was not handled by me. I have given my statement rega-rding Vanpic but I can’t reveal details,” he said. Mr Bhanu was in the CBI office for at least six hours on Sunday. This was his second appeara-nce before the investigating agency. Sources said that he might be called again depending on the investigation’s progress. Mr Bhanu is an Assam cadre IAS official and is currently the chairman of the Tea Board based in Kolkata. He had been on deputation for five-and-a-half years in the state during YSR’s regime.

DC